LUCKNOW: The eighth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 unfolded in grand style in Lucknow on Saturday, celebrating the relentless spirit and excellence of India’s finest athletes. Amid a gathering of sporting legends, Olympic heroes, and rising stars, Prasad Sanyal, Group Business Head of TOI, Indiatimes, and WhatsHot, delivered a stirring opening address that underscored the evolution of the awards from a ceremony into a national movement.Welcoming a distinguished audience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, Sanyal highlighted that TOISA has become a cornerstone of the Indian sporting calendar. “When we first conceptualised the Times of India Sports Awards years ago, we had a simple yet powerful vision—to create a platform that truly celebrates the spirit of Indian sports,” Sanyal noted. “Not just the victories, not just the medals, but the journey, the struggle, the sweat, and the unwavering determination that defines every athlete’s story.”This year’s theme, “More Sweat More Glory,” served as the focal point of the evening. Sanyal emphasised that the accolades presented on stage are merely the tip of the iceberg, representing years of invisible sacrifice.“Glory doesn’t come easy. It comes from the countless hours in the gym when nobody’s watching. It comes from the early morning training sessions when the world is still asleep. It comes from getting up after every fall, every defeat, every setback, and saying, ‘One more time.’ That’s what our athletes do. Day after day. Year after year. And tonight, we honour that spirit,” he said. Celebrating the awards in Lucknow for the third consecutive year, Sanyal praised the host state’s burgeoning role as a nursery for champions. He noted that the transformation in Uttar Pradesh’s sporting landscape has been “remarkable”, ahead of the arrival of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, to grace the occasion.Acknowledging the elite jury, comprising legends like Leander Paes, Mithali Raj, Abhinav Bindra, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal, and PR Sreejesh, Sanyal remarked that their presence bridges the gap between past glory and future potential.In a poignant moment of his address, Sanyal paid special tribute to the para-athletes in attendance. “To our para-athletes, you are champions of the human spirit. Your courage and resilience teach us what true strength really means,” he said, reiterating TOI’s commitment to sports as a source of national inspiration rather than mere entertainment.Concluding his address with a call to ignite the fire in the next generation, Sanyal sparked the beginning of the festivities: “Let’s make this evening unforgettable. Let’s cheer for our champions. Let’s celebrate their sweat, their glory, and their incredible journey! Thank you, and let’s have a spectacular evening! Jai Hind!”
