From football and theatre to global business, human rights and media, this year’s Asian Achievers Awards winners tell a much bigger story about the contribution South Asians continue to make to modern Britain.
When the Asian Achievers Awards were established more than two decades ago, the visibility of South Asians at the highest levels of British business, sport, arts, media and public life looked considerably different.
Twenty-four years later, the names recognised at the 2026 awards demonstrate just how much has changed, but perhaps also why platforms dedicated to recognising those achievements continue to have relevance.
Nearly 600 guests gathered at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Friday, 18 September, for the 24th Asian Achievers Awards, celebrating South Asian achievement across business, entrepreneurship, sport, media, arts, professional life and community service. More than 500 nominations had been submitted for this year’s awards.
But beyond the ceremony, the winners provide a snapshot of the breadth of South Asian contribution today.
Rajiv Batra, Executive Chairman of the Batra Group, was named Business Person of the Year. His company represents more than 20 international brands, including Fila, Reebok and Vera Wang, supplying thousands of retailers around the world.
Entrepreneur of the Year went to Sanjeet Manek, founder of Sandea Wholesale, whose business success has previously earned recognition through the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
In sport, recognition did not go to someone scoring goals or lifting trophies, but to one of the people working behind the scenes to keep elite athletes performing.
Dr Zafar Iqbal, who has held senior sports medicine roles at some of English football’s biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Crystal Palace, was named Sports Personality of the Year.
His award is also a reminder that South Asian contribution to British sport extends far beyond the persistent debate about representation on the pitch.
The arts told another story.
Pravesh Kumar MBE, founder and CEO of Rifco Theatre, received the Achievement in Art and Culture award. Through his work, Kumar has spent years bringing British South Asian experiences and characters onto stages where those stories historically had far less visibility.
Balvinder Singh Sanghera, founder of post-production company runVT, won Achievement in Media, while Manish Tiwari received a special award for his contribution to media.
Nonita Kalra received the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising a career which has included senior leadership within Indian publishing and media.
Professor Sunita Toor, Professor of Human Rights and Gender Justice at the University of Sheffield, was named Woman of the Year, while Chaitanya Tatineni, CEO of Curium Pharma, received Professional of the Year.
Dr Pam Gosal MBE, the first Indian Sikh woman elected to the Scottish Parliament, received the Achievement in Community Service award.
Gaurav Khullar was also recognised with a special award for his contribution to art.
Taken together, the winners do not represent one conventional definition of “success”. They work across commerce, medicine, human rights, politics, theatre, media and culture.
And that breadth is arguably what makes an event created specifically to celebrate South Asian achievement still significant after 24 years.
Britain’s South Asian story is no longer simply one of immigrant communities establishing themselves in a new country. Successive generations are now helping lead businesses, shape culture, work within major institutions and influence the country’s civic and professional life.
Yet visibility and recognition have not always developed at the same pace.
When Asian-specific awards and media platforms were established, part of their purpose was to provide recognition where mainstream institutions did not always see, understand or celebrate South Asian achievement.
The question today is different. As British Asians become increasingly visible across national life, do community-specific awards remain necessary?
For organisers of the Asian Achievers Awards, the answer lies in continuing to document and celebrate a contribution that is both British and South Asian.
Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of organisers EPG, said the awards were particularly important at a time when Britain was experiencing economic pressures and debate around immigration.
“At a time when Britain is facing a continued cost-of-living crisis, frequent changes in government and an anti-immigrant sentiment, our Awards showcase the very best of what our community has to offer,” he said.
The awards themselves date back to 2000 and have developed into an annual fixture recognising South Asians working across British society.
Perhaps their continuing relevance lies not simply in celebrating individual success, but in recording a changing British story.
The achievements celebrated this year range from a doctor who has worked at the highest levels of English football and an entrepreneur trading internationally, to a theatre-maker telling British Asian stories and an academic working in human rights and gender justice.
They are different careers, different industries and different journeys, but collectively they challenge any narrow idea of what British South Asian achievement looks like.
Political leaders from across Britain’s main parties sent messages recognising the occasion, but ultimately the story of the night belonged to the winners.
Because 24 years after the Asian Achievers Awards began, the significance may no longer be about proving that South Asians can succeed in Britain.
It is about recognising the many ways in which they are already helping to shape it.
Full list of Winners:
Achievement in Art and Culture
- WINNER – Pravesh Kumar MBE, Founder and CEO, Rifco Theatre
- Anjana Vasan, BAFTA award-winning theatre and TV actress
- Neelam Gill, Model
- Nikita Pathakji, Winner, Great British Menu
- Saurav Dutt, Author
Achievement in Community Service
- WINNER – Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Former MSP and Deputy Chair, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Mesba Ahmed MBE, CEO, London Tigers
- Nazim Ali, Charity Fundraiser, Ramadan Runner
- Sujan Katuwal MBE, Founder, Panas Gurkha Restaurant
Achievement in Media
- WINNER – Balvinder Singh Sanghera, Founder and CEO, runVT
- Tommy Nagra, Former Director of Content, BBC Children in Need
- Aaron Paul, Football Commentator
- Sarita Sabharwal, Presenter, LycaRadio
Achievement in Sports
- WINNER – Dr Zafar Iqbal, Former Medical Director, Arsenal FC
- Aaron Rai, Golfer, US PGA Championship Winner
- Mariam Mahmood, Footballer, Pakistan Women’s National Team, Wrexham AFC Women
- Sanjeev Sharma, Owner and Director, Southall Football Club
Business Person of the Year
- WINNER – Rajiv Batra, Executive Chairman, Batra Group
- Abbas Esufally, Deputy Chairman, Hemas Holdings plc
- Des Gunawardena, Founder, D3 Collective Limited
- Kamal Pankhania, CEO, Westcombe Group
- Priyanjith Weerasooria, Group MD, FINCO Holdings
Entrepreneur of the Year
- WINNER – Sanjeet Manek, Founder, Sandea Wholesale
- Karan Gokani, Co-Founder, Hoppers
- Nilofar Jaques, Founder, Anayah Jewellery
- Rhim Shah, CEO, Arva AI
- Roheel Ahmad, CEO, Forsyth Barnes
- Subodh Joshi and Sujay Sohani, Co-Founders, Shree Krishna Vada Pav
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER – Nonita Kalra, Chief Creative Officer – Luxury, Fashion and Lifestyle, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.
Professional of the Year
- WINNER – Chaitanya Tatineni, CEO, Curium Biopharma
- Fezaa Sheikh, Partner, Kingsley Wood
- Manthi Wickramasooriya, Partner, Quinn Emanuel
- Prof Shitij Kapur, Vice Chancellor and President, King’s College London
- Rushanka Amrutkar FRAS, Data Governance and Analytics, Environment Agency
Special Award for Contribution to Media
WINNER – Manish Tiwari, Founder and CEO, Here & Now 365
Special Award for Contribution to Art
WINNER – Gaurav Khullar, art collector
Woman of the Year
- WINNER – Prof Sunita Toor, Prof, Human Rights and Gender, University of Sheffield
- Dipna Anand, Chef, Author and Culinary Instructor
- Farzana Baduel, Co-Founder and CEO, Curzon PR
- Prity Somani, Co-Founder and Director, Kara Healthcare
- Venya Wijegunerwardene, Chief Strategy Officer, Spark Foundry UK
