Prasad Sanya, group business head of TOI, Indiatimes and WhatsApp

Lucknow: The eighth edition of The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 began on a grand note in Lucknow on Saturday, celebrating the tireless spirit and excellence of India’s finest athletes. Amidst a gathering of sports stalwarts, Olympic heroes and rising stars, Prasad Sanyal, Group Business Head, TOI, Indiatimes and WhatsApp, delivered an inspiring inaugural address that outlined the evolution of the awards from an event to a national movement.Welcoming the distinguished audience to the heart of Uttar Pradesh, Sanyal highlighted that TOISA has become the cornerstone of the Indian sporting calendar. “Years ago when we first conceptualized the Times of India Sports Awards, we had a simple yet powerful vision – to create a platform that truly celebrates the spirit of Indian sports,” Sanyal said. “Not just wins, not just 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” was the focal point of the evening. Sanyal emphasized that the accolades presented on stage were merely the tip of the iceberg, representing years of invisible sacrifice.“Glory doesn’t come easily. It comes from countless hours spent in the gym when no one is watching. It comes from 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 to day. year after year. And tonight, we honor that sentiment,” he said. Celebrating the awards in Lucknow for the third consecutive year, Sanyal lauded the growing role of the host state as a nursery for champions. On this occasion, he said that the change in the sports landscape of Uttar Pradesh before the arrival of Honorable Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been “remarkable”.Acknowledging the distinguished jury comprising stalwarts 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 present. “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 light the fire in the next generation, Sanyal kicked off 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 wonderful evening! Jai Hind!”