Virat Kohli, Sanjeev Goenka and Gopichand have taken an excellent initiative by launching a scholarship program for individuals by promoting sports at the grassroots level. Indians are awe-struck with cricket, but rest of the other games do not get much recognition as cricket. However, these three have decided to step up their pursuit by shortlisting the deserving athletes. The performances of these athletes will be monitored throughout the year and national badmiton coach Pullela Gopichand will be heading the jury.
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| Snapshot from Indian Sports Honours facebook page live video. |
Sports journalist Federations of India will be an integral part of the process by which the winners are selected. The SJFI members are currently collecting informations which will help in shortlisting the nominees and then finalising the winners in each catergory. Performances between 1st August 2016 and 31st July 2017 will be taken into consideration. Star Sports India will be the official broadcaster of that event.
Virat Kohli, the current captain of Indian cricket team, has broken several records and continues to do so. Kohli wants to thank everyone by giving back the needs for the soceity. The Virat Kohli Foundation (VKF) has pledged to give 2 crores to be utilised every year on the welfare of the scholarships. The exact idea is to promote every sport and encourage every sportsperson to come up in life as they seek to play at the highest level.
“India has made rapid strides as a sporting nation. The days of being a one-sport country are behind us. The time is just right to introduce an institution that will recognise and reward our top sporting achievers and put the spotlight on those who are expected to do the country proud in the years to come,” Kohli said at the launch of the RP-SG Indian Sports Honours.
“Initially, we are investing Rs 2 crore but the amount can go up depending upon the performance of the athletes. I wouldn’t have been anything without cricket. It has made me what I am today and if I can touch people’s lives, it will be a great thing,” Kohli added.
Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman, RP-SG said,”What makes the RP-SG Indian Sports Honours unique is the premier stakeholders of Indian sports – the legends, who have excelled at the highest level, the media and the fans.
The first award ceremony will take place on 11th November at Mumbai, with various Indian sporting families are expected to turn up.