Nominees include: Owais Shah, Samit Patel, Ajmal Ahmed & Ravi Bopara
The organisers of the annual British Asian Sports Awards (BASA) today announced the thirty candidates that have been shortlisted for the final awards ceremony that will take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Saturday 21st February. The nominees, selected by a distinguished panel of leading sports and media personalities, were chosen based upon their sporting prowess over the past 12 months. The shortlist covers ten categories and voting will be open to the public from Sunday 1st February 2009.
BBC Sports editor and BASA judge, Mihir Bose, sees a bright future for British Asian sporting talent, “The awards are a great celebration of British Asian sporting talent of all ages, and I feel honoured to have been on the judging panel. This year the standard of talent has been extremely high and I hope the event further inspires others to pursue a career in sport and ensures that we nurture the next generation of British Olympiads.”
Tracy Edwards MBE, famed for being the skipper of the first all female crew to sail around the world in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, is also a judge for BASA this year and comments, “My recent work with children has made me realise that sport is not something that should just be in the curriculum; instead it should be ingrained in the minds of British youth. The current British Asian sporting potential in the UK begs for recognition and in this respect BASA has my full respect and support.”
Now in its eighth successful year, the award prides itself on acknowledging and celebrating our current British Asian sporting talent and aims to motivate and inspire the next generation of talented British Asian sports people across the United Kingdom.
The British public will be given a chance to vote for the winners, including the prestigious “British Asian Sports Personality of the Year” award. Public voting is an integral part of the BASAs in recognising the amazing in-roads that British Asians have made in the sporting world and the unanimous support from the British public towards encouraging this is crucial. Voting closes on Friday 20th Feb 2009 at midnight.
Previous winner, British sporting icon and poster boy for aspiring British Asian sports talent, Amir Khan the Commonwealth Lightweight Boxing Champion comments, “It’s an honour to be part of such a worthwhile cause, one that encourages our young talent to come forward and be recognised. It’s a stepping stone to motivate and inspire those who would like to take their sport to the next level. It was a privilege to be a winner last year and there is no doubt that it was the support from the British Asian community and my family that was crucial to my success. Now, as a British Asian Sports Awards ambassador, I feel it’s my chance to give a little of that support and encouragement back to the community.”
Last year, Khan earned the title of British Asian Sports Personality of the Year, but this year alongside cricketing star Mark Ramprakash, his role is far more important. Acting as ambassadors for this worthy cause they hope to continue to encourage the young to come forward and make their mark on the sporting world.
Ramprakash, who is widely regarded as the finest English batsman of his generation has been averaging over 100 runs per innings in successive seasons (2006 & 2007).[1] <#_ftn1> Outside of cricket, he has shown immense dancing talent and he went on to win the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2006.
Ramprakash feels the awards are an important step in changing attitudes and getting the younger generation to make a commitment to sport, “In my second year as an ambassador for BASA, I am delighted to see the scope and range of sport that our youth are taking part in. There has been a considerable growth in the number of nominees, with the youngest only being 8 years. Initiatives like the BASAs show the community that we don’t all have to excel in traditional professions but that we can also make our mark in the sporting world. It’s another step in the right direction for British Asian sporting talent.”
The awards evening is a glamorous affair and attracts the cream of the crop from industry figures, national and international celebrities and leading sports icons. Past attendees have included Spurs footballer Jermain Defoe and England batsman Kevin Pieterson, Indian cricket star Kapil Dev. Former England footballer Sir Trevor Brooking, rugby brothers Henry & Robbie Paul, IBF title winning boxer Amir Khan, ex-England cricket captain Nasser Hussain and squash icon Jahangir Khan as well as top international artists. This year’s amazing line up includes some fabulous acts from Mutya Buena, Shola Ama, Kunal Ganjawala, Lemar, Escala and Soul II Soul. The event shall be telecast globally by Sony Entertainment Television Asia.
Public voting opens on 1st February 2009 and voting details are available online at www.basauk.tv .
Complete list of nominees is available on request.
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Notes to editors:
Public voting opens on 1st February 2009 and votes can be cast by phone.
Public voting closes on Friday 20th February at midnight.
The awards ceremony is taking place Grosvenor House Hotel on Saturday, 21st February 2009. There are a number of tickets available for this event. All interested print, broadcast and digital media should register for tickets. Please contact Media Moguls on 0208 902 5575.
The tickets will only allow you access to the press room and not the main ballroom where the ceremony will be taking place.
The British Asian Sports Awards nominated categories are:
• Young Sports Personality of the Year (under 10)
• Junior Sports Personality of the Year (under 18, female)
• Junior Sports Personality of the Year (under 18, male)
• Most Up and Coming Sports Personality of the Year
• Outstanding Achievement Award
• Coach of the Year
• Community Business in Sport
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• International Sports Personality of the Year
• The British Asian Sports Awards Sports Personality of the Year
There will also be a champagne moment honouring the best in British Asian Sport.
The awards are sponsored by the following organisations:
• Pharmaclinix - Young Sports Personality of the Year
• RCS Designs - Junior Sports Personality of the Year Male
• Surya Foods - Junior Sports Personality of the Year Female
• Madhu's - Most Up and Coming Sports Personality of the Year
• Anand Hyundai International - Outstanding Achievement Award
• Heathrow City Partnership - Community Business in Sport
• ASTRA - Lifetime Achievement Award
• Shana Foods Ltd - Coach of the Year
• Genesis - International Sports Personality of the Year
• Southall Travel - Champagne Moment of the Year
• Walkers - British Asian Sports Personality of the Year
The Judges for the British Asian Sports Awards are:
• Mark Ramprakash – BASA Ambassador and former English cricketer.
• Mihir Bose – BBC Sports Editor.
• Rajan Singh - Executive Vice-President for International Business, Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET Asia).
• Tracy Edwards (MBE) – the skipper of the first all female crew to sail around the world in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht.
Entertainment on the night includes:
• Escala
• Shola Ama
• Mutya Buena
• Soul II Soul
• Kunal Ganjawala
• Lemar
• 50th anniversary celebration of Motown
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