Mirabai Chanu: Weightlifter is BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year
image source, Clive Brunskill
Mirabai Chanu is BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for the second time
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award for 2022 following a public vote.
The 28-year-old Commonwealth champion, who also won in 2021, is the first person to receive the honor twice.
The other shortlisted candidates were wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Malikkh, boxer Nikhat Zareen and badminton player PV Sindhu.
Mirabai Chanu: ‘I only got a full diet twice a week’
Table tennis player Bhavina Patel has been named Para Athlete of the Year after winning Commonwealth Gold – a category being introduced for the first time.
Patel, 36, said: “It’s gratifying to win this prestigious award, which is part of a wonderful initiative that empowers women and athletes.
“It is also commendable to see the BBC focus on para-sport and make India more inclusive.”
Former ice hockey player and coach Pritam Siwach received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Indian sport and inspiration to generations of players.
The 48-year-old was the first ice hockey coach to receive the Dronacharya Award, which was established in 1985 and honors sports coaches in India.
“I want to thank the BBC for picking me,” she said. “It motivates us when we receive such awards.”
Boxer Nitu Ghanghas was voted Young Athlete of the Year.
Ghanghas, 22, is a two-time world youth champion and won Commonwealth gold in 2022.
The invited audience at the Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi watched a video message from gymnast great Simone Biles before Ghanghas took the stage to accept her award.
Biles said: “Nitu works so hard and proved to be top of her class at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.”
In response, Ghanghas said, “I am very happy. This will motivate female athletes to perform even better. Last year I was a guest at this ceremony. So it’s a nice experience to be a winner this year. All my energy now goes to preparing for the Olympics.”
India’s Commonwealth Gold Medal-winning Lawn Bowls team was also honored at the ceremony, receiving a special trophy for their historic achievement.
And Bhagwani Devi, 95, and Rambai, 106, received their Changemaker of the Year awards.
Devi won gold in the 100 meter sprint at the World Masters Athletics in Finland and bronze in the shot put. Rambai won gold in both the 100m and 200m at the 2022 National Open Masters Athletics Championships in Vadodara.
The ceremony was attended by Ashok Gehlot, Prime Minister of Rajasthan, Dilip Tirkey, former captain of India men’s national ice hockey team and current President of Hockey India, Olympic boxing champion Vijender Singh and India’s top table tennis player Manika Batra.
The BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year was established in 2019 to honor the country’s best female athletes and to highlight the issues and challenges faced by female athletes there.
The five nominees for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Award were announced in February after being selected by a panel of prominent sportswriters, writers and pundits.