A dazzling celebration & dancing queens of cricket | Lucknow News

Lucknow: The third time, they say, is the charm. The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) returned to Lucknow for the third time, delivering an evening that seamlessly blended sporting excellence with high-octane glamour, rolling out the red carpet for the royalty of sweat, sacrifice, and unyielding spirit.From Olympians and world champions to para-athletes and emerging stars, the ceremony brought together the entire spectrum of Indian sport under one roof.Adding charm and energy to the evening were hosts Neha Dhupia and her husband Angad Bedi, whose effortless stage presence and sharp banter kept the ceremony moving at a lively pace.The venue sparkled with style as sport’s biggest names arrived dressed for the occasion. Sharp suits, elegant sarees, and statement silhouettes dominated the red carpet, offering a rare glimpse of athletes away from competition arenas and into the spotlight of national recognition. Camera flashes followed legends and first-time winners alike, underlining the scale and stature of the event.One of the evening’s most engaging segments came when Neha Dhupia invited members of the Indian women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, to centre stage, briefly shifting the tone from formal recognition to candid conversation and humour.What followed was a lively, cricket-themed interaction that drew both laughter and applause. Using familiar on-field terms like LBW, umpire, bouncer, and hit wicket, the host encouraged players — Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet — to describe one another off the field.From social media habits to shopping confessions while travelling, the conversation offered the audience a rare glimpse into the team’s off-field dynamics. The segment concluded on a high note when the players broke into a spontaneous dance, earning one of the loudest ovations of the night.Together, this candid interaction and the nostalgic recollections from the past captured the essence of the evening.At TOISA, host Neha Dhupia struck a thoughtful chord when she asked actress Taapsee Pannu, who was the TOISA Ambassador of the year, about portraying athletes on screen — what was harder, acting the role or training to become an athlete for it.Taapsee was clear in her response, saying that coming even remotely close to an athlete’s life was the toughest challenge. She shared that many films in her career were driven by her desire to learn different sports, calling herself a “wannabe athlete” who has admired sportspersons all her life. For her, athletes are the real heroes of the country, which is why she has always gravitated towards such roles.The exchange turned playful when Neha asked if there was a sports biopic Taapsee still wanted to do. Without hesitation, Taapsee named Sania Mirza, admitting that not knowing tennis at all would make it an even bigger challenge—and therefore more exciting. She described Sania’s journey as deeply inspiring and said she would love to portray it if given the opportunity.As the night progressed, the chatter, the laughter, and the clinking of glasses formed a continuous rhythm. The awards themselves, handed out between rounds of applause and standing ovations, became punctuation marks in a larger narrative.The loudest applause of the evening was reserved for para chess winner Vaibhav Gautam, whose moment on stage became one of TOISA’s most emotional highlights. As he was rolled on a wheelchair up to receive his award, the entire hall rose to its feet in a spontaneous standing ovation. The honour was presented by a distinguished group that included Madan Lal, former Indian cricketer, national team coach and member of the iconic 1983 World Cup–winning squad, along with M M Somaya, former Indian field hockey player, and Deepa Malik, silver medalist at the 2016 Paralympics and former President of the Paralympic Committee of India.The honours spanned achievements across 45 categories, alongside a strong emphasis on para-sports, reflecting the evolving and inclusive landscape of Indian athletics.Archana Singh (23) described her first-ever award ceremony experience at TOISA as ‘surreal and unforgettable’. Seeing celebrated athletes up close, she said, made the evening feel larger than life. “I’ve watched such events only on screens, but being there amid the lights, applause and celebrations was completely different. The interaction with the women cricketers felt especially inspiring.”For Ritika Sharma (21), a student at the University of Lucknow, the event struck a perfect balance between sport and entertainment. “What I loved most was how interactive the evening was. It didn’t feel stiff or formal,” she said, recalling the lively moments between the hosts and athletes. Ritika also took pride in seeing Lucknow host TOISA once again.It was not just about who won. It was about who showed up, how the evening felt, and how sport, style, and stature came together to create a mood that lingered long after the lights dimmed.