Amir Khan is the BASA 'Sports Personality of the Decade'
7th March 2011

Boxing hero Amir Khan was voted 'Sports Personality of the Decade' at the British Asian Sports Awards (BASA) last night in London (7th March 2011). The event, hosted by Eastenders star Nitin Ganatra and Holby City stunner Laila Rouass, took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane and celebrated its tenth anniversary with celebrities from the sporting and showbiz world, including X Factor stars Olly Murs and Shayne Ward, comedian Gina Yashere, Anuvahood and Shank star Adam Deacon, Eastenders stars Diane Parish, Ramon Tikaram and Ricky Norwood, cricketers Saj Mahmood, Isa Guha and Farukh Engineer amongst a host of others.

The Personality of the Decade Award was created as part of the special celebrations to mark ten years of BASA. Khan was selected from the past 10 year’s winners of the coveted British Asian Sports Personality of the Year Award. Khan, who has won the BASA Sports Personality of the Year Award three times in the past decade, was recognised not only for his personal sporting achievements since winning his silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and his formidable career over the past six years, but also for the amazing impact he has had in changing perceptions of sport within the Asian community.

In a special video message to guests, Amir said: “This is an amazing award to receive, and I hope that my success will go some way to inspiring all those sporting hopefuls out in the community to believe that they can achieve their dreams too. Without BASA’s recognition all those years ago, I am not sure I would have had the immense support I have from the community. Thank you.” Amir Khan’s younger brother Haroon, also a celebrated boxer in his own right, made an emotive and inspiring speech as he collected the Award in Amir’s absence.

As well as boxing heroes, this year’s Awards saw talent from a host of different sporting disciplines including football, cricket, martial arts, kickboxing, wheel-chair rugby, motor-racing and even billiards. Four times World Billiards Championship, Michael Ferreira took home the Lifetime Achievement Award, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was honoured twice, as International Sports Personality of the Year and also in recognition of his 50th Test century in first Test against South Africa in December 2010 as the Champagne Moment Award.

The awards also saw 20 year-old Luciano Bacheta, take home the British Asian Sports Personality of the Year title, for his outstanding motor-racing achievements in 2010. Luciano, who is managed by former F1 Champion, Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony Hamilton, began his racing career when he was only 13 years old. Like many F1 drivers, Luciano launched himself in to the world of racing through Karting and he has since gone on to compete in the Formula Palmer Audi Championship.

The winners of the British Asian Sports Awards 2011

Junior Sports Personality of the Year (Under 15)
Maaz Bin Saud (Kick-boxing)

Young Sports Personality of the Year (under 18, female)
Nur-Jehan Shaikh (Karate)

Young Sports Personality of the Year (under 18, male)
Shivisinh Thakor (Cricket)

Most Up and Coming Sports Personality of the Year
Danny Bath (Football)

Outstanding Achievement Award
Mandip Sehmi (Wheelchair rugby)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Michael Ferreira (Billiards)

Coach of the Year
Bobby Bhogal (Hockey)

British Asian Sports Personality of the Year
Luciano Bacheta (Motor racing)

International Sports Personality of the Year
Sachin Tendulkar (Cricket)

Champagne Moment of the Year
Sachin Tendulkar 50th Test Century 9(Cricket)

The Judges for the British Asian Sports Awards this year were:·

• Mark Ramprakash – BASA Ambassador and former English cricketer.
• Manish Bhasin (MBE) – BBC's Football League Show presenter
• Mihir Bose – Evening Standard Sports Contributor
• Denise Lewis (OBE) – Olympic Gold medallist
• Lorraine Deschamps – Trustee of Sporting Equals
• Neeraj Arora - Executive Vice-President for Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET Asia)