The Times of India's inaugural 'Right to Excellence Sports Summit 2023,' held in New Delhi on Friday, proved to be a resounding success. The event brought together Indian sports champions, sports governance administrators, and various stakeholders from the sports business sector, fostering valuable discussions that offered a glimpse into the future of sports in India.
Amidst a constellation of India's sports stars who have shone on the global stage, the inaugural 'Right to Excellence Sports Summit 2023' by Times of India witnessed an impressive gathering. Among the luminaries present were Olympic medalists Vijender Singh and MC Mary Kom, the iconic long-jump athlete and World Championship medalist Anju Bobby George, wrestling legend Geeta Phogat, and the 2011 cricket World Cup champion Suresh Raina.
The event commenced with an opening address by Madan Lal, a former cricketer and a member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team. It then delved into engaging panel discussions covering topics such as sports governance and policy-making, the business aspect of sports, and the ever-growing role of women in Indian sports.
Onstage, Adille Sumariwalla, President of the Athletics Federation of India, shared insights alongside Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) CEO Commodore Pushpendra Garg and former star Paralympian and Paralympic Committee of India President Deepa Malik.
During one of the panel discussions, GMR Marketing Head Sujoy Ganguly, Neerav Tomar, founder of iOS sports, Divyanshu Singh, COO of JSW Sports, and Bollywood actress & Pro Panja League promoter Preeti Jhangiani shed light on the economics of sports.
In an enthralling segment, multiple-time world champions Mary Kom and Vijender shared captivating anecdotes, taking the audience on a journey through their paths to the pinnacle of the boxing world. Their sessions were artfully moderated by India's former champion double-trap shooter, Ronjan Sodhi.
Mary Kom emphasized the significance of family support in an athlete's journey, stating, "I come from a very humble family...parents' blessings are important to achieve success."
Suresh Raina, in a conversation with moderator and former India cricket captain Anjum Chopra, regaled the audience with his inspiring journey, rising from a modest background in Uttar Pradesh to cricket stardom.
On the sidelines of the event, Raina expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thanks to Times of India for organizing this Sports Summit." He also shared his thoughts on the eagerly anticipated ODI World Cup to be hosted by India from October 5 to November 19 this year.
When asked to pick his favorites for the upcoming mega event, Raina mentioned, "India, Australia, England, and Sri Lanka or Pakistan." He added, "It will be amazing if India wins the Asia Cup and then the World Cup too... My message to Rohit Sharma and his men is to go out there, express yourselves, and bring us the World Cup."