Saina, Kohli top awardees list

World no. 4 shuttler Saina Nehwal and star cricketer Virat Kohli led the list of awardees at the Sports Illustrated India’s annual Sportsperson of the Year awards ceremony recently in Gurgaon. This was the fourth edition of the India chapter, inspired by the world’s most prestigious sports awards — the Sportsman of the Year — established by Sports Illustrated US in 1954. At the awards night on Monday, Kohli appreciated young cricketer Unmukt Chand by calling him hard-working. Said Chand, “My idols are Virat Kohli, Laxman, Yuvraj among others. I am regularly asked for tips and how it feels to have reached this level. I will soon be writing a book about my experiences and learning.” Winner of the sporting moment of the year, paralympian H. Nagarajegowda Girisha said that he will try for gold next time.

This year’s awardees:

Athlete of the Year - Virat Kohli (cricket); Sportsperson of the Year - Saina Nehwal (badminton); Sportskid of the Year – Uttam Rai (football); Outstanding Contribution to Sport – Tata; Sporting Moment of the Year – Girisha H. Nagarajegowda (paralympics); Surprise Package of the Year – S.S. Virk (rowing) and K.T. Irfan (athletics); Domestic Performance of the Year – Services; Administrator of the Year – Service Sports Control Board; Editors Award for Excellence – India’s Olympic medallists; Gamechanger of the Year – Sushil Kumar (wrestling); Coach of the Year – P.Gopichand (badminton), Team of the Year – India U-19 Cricket Team (cricket); Young Player of the Year – Unmukt Chand (cricket); Lifetime Achievement Award – Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman (cricket)