Sports Speakers in India

Virender Sehwag - Former captain of the Indian cricket team, holds the reputation of being one of the most aggressive batsman. His monstrous hitting style has brought India laurels on many occasions.  This swashbuckling cricketer, known for his fearless approach, delighted fans with audacious strokes and a penchant for turning matches on their heads. Sehwag's ability to dismantle bowlers earned him accolades, including two triple centuries in Test cricket, solidifying his status as one of India's greatest cricketing icons. Beyond the boundaries, his witty persona on and off the field, coupled with a relentless attacking mindset, has left an indelible mark on the world of cricket. He became the only Indian to be honored with the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the world for his performance in 2008, subsequently becoming the first player of any nationality to retain the award in 2009. 

Major Devender Pal Singh is a young major who was grievously injured in Kargil during Operation Vijay after which one of his legs was amputated. Today, that same soldier has run 12 half marathons, an accomplishment as miraculous as it is inspirational. He is popularly called as 'Indian Blade Runner’ and is the first amputee marathon runner of India besides holding several laurels including being a Limca record holder. His extraordinary journey from being an Army officer to an amputee marathon runner has given him recognition as a motivational speaker and he has been a source of inspiration to many. He received his senior secondary education from Kendriya Vidyalaya Roorkee. DP Singh’s extraordinary journey from being an Army officer to an amputee marathon runner has given him a recognition as a motivational speaker and he has been a source of inspiration to many.

Padamshree Dr. Arunima Sinha is the first Indian amputee to climb Mount Everest. She is also the first female amputee to climb Mount Vinson. She was a national-level volleyball player who was pushed from a running train by some robbers in 2011 while she was resisting them. As a result, one of her legs had to be amputated below the knee. Her aim was to climb all the continents' highest peaks and put the national flag of India. She has gone on to be the first female amputee to climb the tallest mountains in Africa, Europe, Australia, and South America. Arunima is the brand ambassador of the Karnataka Government Sports and Adventure Department and of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (UP). She is currently setting up a sports academy named Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Azad Viklang Khel Academy and Prosthetic Limb Centre Society in Unnao.

Yuvraj Singh, born on December 12, 1981, in Chandigarh, India, is a former Indian cricketer and one of the country's most iconic all-rounders. Known for his aggressive batting style and exceptional fielding skills, Yuvraj made a significant impact on Indian cricket during his illustrious career. A key player in India's 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup triumphs, he was pivotal in crucial moments. Beyond cricket, Yuvraj Singh is recognized for his philanthropy, particularly through the YouWeCan Foundation, focusing on cancer awareness and supporting cancer survivors. His journey remains an inspiring saga in the annals of Indian cricket.

Saachi Soni had already achieved extraordinary feats in the realm of mountaineering when she was only 23. Scaling peaks across continents, including the formidable Mount McKinley and Europe's highest, Mount Elbrus, making her the first Indian to conquer it, showcasing her exceptional resilience and adventurous spirit. Introduced to mountaineering, hiking, and skiing at the age of seven by her father, Saachi has become India's trailblazing woman selected for an Everest expedition by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. Her triumphant ascent of Mt. Everest in 2013 marked a historic milestone. Through her teenage years, she conquered challenging Himalayan peaks, demonstrating unwavering determination. Saachi's involvement in Adventure Mountaineering courses, interviews, and contributions as a Citizen Journalist for CNN IBN exemplifies her commitment to adventure and resilience. Invited as a panelist for Narendra Modi's Chai Pe Charcha on International Women’s Day, Saachi continues to inspire through her indomitable spirit.
 

Jonty Rhodes is a former South African cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest fielders in the history of the sport. His leadership, dedication, and achievements on the field set new standards for fielding in international cricket. Through his talks, Jonty Rhodes inspires audiences to cultivate a mindset of success, and remaining fit not only in body but mind. The Jonty Rhodes legend may have begun with the diving run-out of Inzamam-ul-Haq during the 1992 World Cup but it would never have grown as it did without genuine substance.  Post-retirement, Jonty Rhodes continued to influence cricket as a coach and mentor. He has worked as a fielding coach for several international teams and IPL franchises, including Mumbai Indians, helping shape the next generation of cricketers.

Bear Grylls OBE, a global icon in survival and adventure, emerged from martial arts training to a three-year stint in the British Special Forces, honing survival skills tested against nature's challenges. Despite a paralyzing parachuting accident in Africa, Grylls rebounded, becoming one of the youngest to conquer Mount Everest. His fame skyrocketed through seven seasons of Man vs. Wild, a wildly popular Discovery Channel series reaching 1.2 billion viewers. Grylls continued his extreme adventures in Running Wild, hosting celebrities like President Obama and Julia Roberts. He's also the face of the Emmy-winning Netflix interactive show Man Vs Wild TV and related movies. An acclaimed author with over 90 books, including bestselling Mud Sweat and Tears, Grylls is involved in charity and holds honorary positions. His impactful televised adventure with Indian Prime Minister Modi set a record with 3.6 billion impressions. His life motto resonates: "courage, kindness, and never give up!"

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Geeta Phogat, an Indian wrestling trailblazer, shattered barriers in a male-dominated sport. Her journey, depicted in the film "Dangal," showcases her dedication and triumphs, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler at the Olympics. A recipient of Arjuna Award and Padma Shri, she's an inspiration to aspiring athletes. Geeta's relentless pursuit of excellence propelled her to gold at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Wrestling Championships. With an unwavering spirit and pioneering achievements, she continues to empower women and foster change in the wrestling arena, leaving an indelible mark on India's sports landscape.

Vikram, a former media executive at PMG, MTV, and Metalight Films, pivoted from corporate to cricket after realizing unconventional incomes. His viral stint at the 2004 CEAT Cricket Awards kickstarted a standup comedy journey, performing in 2500+ global shows for corporates, Bollywood, and cricket events. From SET MAX during the World Cup to ICC World Cup 2011 on IBN LokMat, his TV stints expanded his reach. With a versatile comedy portfolio spanning sports, politics, Bollywood, and life advice, Vikram's authored "How Sachin Destroyed My Life" and created "SPORTIFY-LIFE LESSONS IN SPORT." He spearheaded "WHAT THE DUCK" on VIU, co-founded Bawraas, and led 'Think Cricket' with Harsha & Anita Bhogle. Vikram's diverse pursuits include ventures with startups like Genepath Diagnostics & Sarva Yoga.

Strategic Evangelist: India / AI (MR/AR/VR/Robotics) / Gamification / B2G / Sport / M&E (content) / Alternate Energy / Sustainability / Investments.  Let's talk.  Life is like a candle against the wind - Dream, Believe, Maximise. Experienced Senior Vice President with a demonstrated history of working in Media, Entertainment, Sports and Banking industry. Successful in Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships, forging Corporate & Govt Alliances. Adept at International Relations and an industry Analyst on M&E and Sports.

Rahul Dravid Popularly nicknamed "The Wall", has been described as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. Rahul is a former World-cup Winning Indian Cricket Coach, Former Indian Cricketer, who captained both the national Test and One Day International cricket teams. 

Rahul Dravid is remembered till today for all the partnerships, peer-group respect and selflessness. Rahul always put his team first. Dravid’s integrity and behaviour, on and off the field, were irreproachable.  He can inspire and motivate the audiences with his experience in his triumph over adversity, his meticulous training and rigorous preparation and strength to stand by his beliefs. Dravid is remembered till today for his moral stature and as someone who never once put self above team in his long career, and has spent his years after retirement giving back to the game lavishly. He was ranked by Wisden as the third greatest Test batsman of all time, after Don Bradman and Tendulkar. 

Lt. Gen Balbir Singh Sandhu, a distinguished member of India’s armed forces for 39 years, held key positions in all Arms Operational environments. As an instructor at top defense institutions like the National Defence Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, he discovered his passion for speaking. His illustrious career includes prestigious appointments, participation in national and international polo events, and leadership roles, such as Director General of Information Technology and Director General of Supplies & Transport in the Indian Army. Decorated with honors like the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, and Army Commanders Commendation Card, Lt. Gen Sandhu, post-superannuation completed PhD, thesis was ‘ peace, security and economic development of India’s Northeast with reference to BIMSTEC and is a visiting faculty at IIM Rohtak.

Ajeet Bajaj is a mountaineer, adventurer, explorer and the Managing Director of Snow Leopard Adventures, a three times recipient of the National Tourism Award for the best adventure Tour operator. He is the first Indian to have completed the Polar Trilogy by skiing to the North Pole, the South Pole and across Greenland. With over 30 years of experience in adventure sports, he is one of the first Asian to have rafted and kayaked some of the most challenging rivers of the world spanning six continents. He has also been felicitated with the Hall of Fame award by the Adventure Tour Operators Association.

Viswanathan Anand, India's inaugural Chess Grandmaster, embarked on his chess journey at the age of 6. Familiarly known as Vishy, he has amassed a remarkable list of achievements. As the first World Chess Champion from Asia and a former world No. 1, he holds five world championship titles, triumphing in various game formats. An unparalleled figure in the chess world, Anand stands as one of only two individuals to clinch the Classical, Rapid, and Blitz world championships. Furthermore, he remains the sole player to secure the world championship in Match, Tournament, and Knockout formats. As a distinguished ambassador of the sport, Viswanathan Anand commands profound respect and admiration in the realm of chess.

Former head coach and captain of the Indian Cricket Team; the third highest wicket taker in Test cricket; and the highest wicket taker for India in One-day internationals, Anil Kumble is recognized as one of the most respected sporting icons that India has ever produced. Kumble was appointed the captain of the Indian Test cricket team in 2007. In the year of 2016, Anil was appointed the Coach of the Indian national team and within months of his taking up the position, the Indian team reached the number one position in the ICC Test rankings. In Anil's one-year tenure, the Indian team also won the most number of Test matches in a calendar year. As a motivational Speaker, Anil delivers highly tailored presentations which combine his deep understanding of leadership, motivation and team working. 

Anita is the best-selling author of “Equal, Yet different—Career Catalysts for the Professional Woman”, which offers an India-centric approach to enabling career women to achieve their full potential. The book offers a 360-degree approach to what organisations, families and the women themselves need to do to stay the course and get into leadership positions. An alumna of IIT-B and IIM-A, Anita attained the position of Director—Account Planning and Research at FCB-Ulka. Soon after, Anita set up Prosearch Consultants, a sport-based consultancy along with husband and business partner, Harsha Bhogle. They both run a motivational workshop called ‘The Winning Way’, where they share insights and learning from sports for managers. The series translated into a book which sold over 1,25,000 copies and started a new genre in motivational speaking. 

Saina Nehwal, India's trailblazing badminton athlete, etched her name in history as the first Indian to secure an Olympic medal in the sport. Her groundbreaking bronze at the London 2012 Games marked a pivotal moment. From the outset, she garnered attention, seizing the BWF World Junior Championships title in 2008. Despite her debut at Beijing 2008, it was her triumph at London 2012 that catapulted her to global acclaim. Born on March 17, 1990, in Haryana, Saina's badminton journey commenced at eight, after her family's relocation to Hyderabad. Her pursuit stemmed from bridging linguistic barriers and honoring her mother's badminton legacy. Representing India in the 2008 Beijing Olympics fulfilled both aspirations. A trailblazer, Saina reached Olympic quarter-finals, defeating world number five Wang Chen before an intense match against Indonesia's Maria Kristin Yulianti. Her journey symbolizes resilience, making her a pioneer in Indian badminton history.

Born with hemiplegia (which causes paralysis to one side of the body), Devika Malik overcame the challenges of her disability to become an international para-athlete (disability sports) with 8 national & 3 international medals at World Para Athletics Grand Prix competitions; a psychological counsellor; International Disability Inclusion Advocate & TEDx Speaker and social entrepreneur - Co-founder of the Wheeling Happiness Foundation. The foundation has provided artificial limbs & assistive devices to 550+ beneficiaries. Devika’s efforts have been recognised nationally and internationally, this includes receiving the Queen's Young Leaders Award from Queen Elizabeth II in London and being a Speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 in London and recently recognition by the Vice President of India & United Nations India – Women Transforming India Award 2018 and inclusion in the coveted Forbes 30Under30 List in 2020.

A Commonwealth Games gold medallist, a two-time Olympian and winner of multiple other honours, Manika Batra is one of the true stars of Indian table tennis. At Tokyo 2020, Manika Batra became the first women’s table tennis player from India to make it to the round of 32 in singles at an Olympics.  Manika Batra, though, first rose to fame at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia when she bagged four medals, two of them gold. Before that, Manika Batra had won three gold medals at the 2016 South Asian Games and made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016. Manika Batra aspires to do for table tennis in India what PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal did for badminton in the country.

Vijender Singh Beniwal is an Indian professional boxer and the current WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Champion and WBO Oriental Super Middleweight Champion from Kaluwas, Bhiwani district in Haryana. He was coached by the Indian Boxing Coach Jagdish Singh. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, he won the Bronze medal. At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, he defeated Carlos Góngora of Ecuador which also garnered him a bronze medal—the first ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer. After this win, Vijender was given a number of awards, including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award—India’s highest sporting honour and Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour. In 2009, he participated at the World Amateur Boxing Championships where he won the bronze medal. Vijender is the son of a bus driver with Haryana Roadways. In January 2010, Vijender Singh was awarded the Padma Shri for outstanding contribution to Indian sports.

Leander Paes, whose sporting career has spanned over 30 years, has dedicated his life to making his 1.2 billion countrymen proud by representing India in tennis. His passion for the game has driven his nearly three-decade-long success. Known for his meticulous preparation and relentless hard work, Leander continually reinvents himself to stay ahead. His philosophy is to set higher goals upon achieving one and to never lose focus. This mindset has helped him live by his motto: "Infuse as much happiness in people’s lives as I can." From a boy dreaming of global recognition for India, he has become a man on a mission to motivate, empower, and inspire others.

Harbhajan Singh is a legendary Indian cricketer celebrated for his exceptional skills as an off-spin bowler. Known as the "Turbanator," he has been a pivotal figure in Indian cricket, renowned for his wicket-taking abilities and match-winning performances. Harbhajan made significant contributions to India's victories in both Test and One Day International (ODI) formats, including key roles in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 Cricket World Cup triumphs. With over 700 international wickets, his career is marked by numerous records and accolades. Beyond his on-field achievements, Harbhajan is also admired for his leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game.

Shikhar Dhawan is a prominent Indian cricketer renowned for his dynamic batting and charismatic presence on the field. As a left-handed opening batsman, he has made significant contributions to the Indian national team across all formats of the game. Dhawan's aggressive style and consistency have earned him a reputation as one of India's leading run-scorers. Known for his powerful strokes and remarkable innings, he has been instrumental in numerous victories. Beyond his international career, Dhawan has also excelled in the Indian Premier League (IPL), representing various franchises. His dedication and sportsmanship continue to inspire cricket enthusiasts worldwide.