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 best athletes. Amidst a gathering of sports legends, Olympic heroes, and rising stars, Prasad Sanyal, Group Business Head of TOI, India Times, and WhatsHot delivered an impassioned opening address emphasizing the evolution of the awards ceremony into a national movement.Welcoming an esteemed audience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, Sanyal highlighted that TOISA has become a cornerstone of the Indian sports calendar. “When we first conceived 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 tell each athlete’s story.”This year’s theme, “More Sweat More Glory,” served as the evening’s focal point. Sanyal emphasized that the accolades presented on stage are just the tip of the iceberg, representing years of hidden sacrifices.“Glory doesn’t come easy. It comes from countless hours in the gym when no one is watching. It comes from 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 by day Year after year. And tonight, we honor that spirit,” he said. Celebrating the awards for the third consecutive year in Lucknow, Sanyal hailed the host state’s growing role as a nursery for champions. He noted that the change in the sports landscape of Uttar Pradesh has been “remarkable” before the arrival of Hon’ble Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the occasion.Acknowledging the elite jury, which includes legends like Leander Pace, 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 national movement rather than mere entertainment.Ending his address with a call to ignite the next generation, Sanyal kicked off the festivities: “Let’s make this an unforgettable evening. Let’s cheer for our champions, let’s celebrate their sweat, their glory and their incredible journey! Thank you, and let’s have a great evening!”
