News18 India, India’s No. 1 Hindi news channel, is set to host ‘Jazba: Jadon Se Shikhar Tak’ in Delhi on September 18, bringing together some of the country’s leading sportspersons, policymakers, administrators, industry representatives and experts for conversations on the evolving landscape of Indian sport.
The first-of-its-kind national platform will celebrate not just sporting victories, but also the journeys, challenges and people behind India’s sporting achievements. From athletes and coaches to families, academies, institutions and policymakers, Jazba will put the spotlight on the wider ecosystem that helps nurture and develop sporting talent.
The event will explore some of the key issues shaping Indian sport, including grassroots development,
sports infrastructure, Olympic ambitions, sports policy, innovation and the rapidly expanding sports economy.
More Than Just The Medal: Celebrating The Journey Behind Every Victory
Jazba aims to look beyond the medal podium and bring forward the stories that often remain behind the spotlight. The platform will explore the years of preparation, early-morning training sessions, setbacks, comebacks and the perseverance that eventually leads athletes to the biggest sporting stages.
The event will feature voices from across the sporting spectrum, including sporting icons, emerging achievers, para-athletes and grassroots heroes. Through conversations and panel discussions, Jazba will examine where Indian sport stands today and what needs to be done to build a stronger sporting ecosystem for the future.
The discussions will also focus on how better grassroots systems, improved infrastructure, wider opportunities and greater support for athletes can help India develop the next generation of champions.
Distinguished Line-Up Of Speakers
The event will bring together an extensive line-up of political leaders, sports administrators, Olympians, former international athletes and sporting experts.
Among the speakers will be Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Labour and Employment; Youth Affairs & Sports; Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs; Anurag Thakur, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports; and Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, AVSM (Retd.), Minister for Industry & Commerce, IT & Communication, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs & Sports and Sainik Welfare, Government of Rajasthan.
The line-up will also include Shreyasi Singh, Minister of Industries & Sports, Government of Bihar; Gaurav Gautam, MoS for Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship and Sports, Law & Legislative Affairs, Haryana; and Dilip Tirkey, President, Hockey India, former captain of the Indian hockey team and Olympian.
Several celebrated names from Indian sport will also participate, including Ashok Dhyanchand, former hockey player and Arjuna Awardee; Ishant Sharma, former Indian cricketer; Yogeshwar Dutt, former Indian wrestler and Olympic medallist; Sardara Singh, former captain of the Indian men’s hockey team and Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee; and Sandeep Patil, former Indian cricketer, 1983 World Cup winner and former chairman of the BCCI Selection Committee.
The event will further feature Aakash Chopra, former Indian cricketer and commentator; Paras Dogra, captain of the Jammu & Kashmir senior men’s cricket team; Akhil Kumar, former Indian boxer, Arjuna Awardee and Olympian; Ashwini Nachappa, former athlete, Arjuna Awardee and Olympian and founder of Ashwini’s Sports Foundation; and Rani Rampal, former captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, Padma Shri, Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awardee.
Other prominent participants include Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, Indian Mallakhamb coach and Padma Shri Awardee; Deepa Malik, Paralympian, Khel Ratna, Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee; Shubham Juyal, para shot put athlete and Commonwealth Games 2026 medallist; and Sharmila Dhankar, para shot put athlete and Commonwealth Games 2026 medallist, among others.
‘Indian Sporting Story Is At An Important Juncture’: Jyoti Kamal
Speaking about the upcoming event, Jyoti Kamal, Managing Editor, News18 India, said India’s sporting story is at an important juncture, with remarkable performances and a growing appetite for sport, while significant work remains to provide young talent with better opportunities and wider access.
“Jazba: Jadon Se Shikhar Tak will bring together voices from across the sporting world to understand what is driving this change and what it will take to sustain it,” Kamal said.
He added that the platform would provide an opportunity to share ideas, learn from different experiences and keep the conversation around Indian sport moving forward “with optimism and purpose”.
‘Stories Behind Sporting Success Deserve To Be Heard’: Mitul Sangani
Mitul Sangani, CEO, Indian Language Cluster and News18 Digital at Network18, said India’s sporting landscape has stories that deserve attention beyond the scoreboard.
“We have seen the country celebrate its sporting successes, but it is equally important to bring the stories behind that success, the gaps and challenges, and the changing sports economy into the mainstream,” Sangani said.
He added that such conversations could offer different perspectives on sport while encouraging more young people to participate and pursue sporting careers.
According to Sangani, News18 India’s Jazba aims to use the platform’s reach to highlight the people and ideas shaping India’s sporting journey, its future and the wider sports economy.
With ‘Jazba: Jadon Se Shikhar Tak’, News18 India aims to celebrate Indian sport beyond the moment a medal is won focusing on the people, passion, perseverance and ecosystem that make those achievements possible.
