22nd Asian Achievers Awards: Celebrating South Asian Excellence in the UK

The prestigious 22nd Asian Achievers Awards, the UK’s most highly regarded celebration of South Asian success, is set to take place on September 20, 2024, at the illustrious Hilton Park Lane, London. These awards have recognised the outstanding contributions of the South Asian community across various fields since their inception in 2000.

Supported by media partners Lyca Radio, Asian Voice, and Gujarat Samachar, the Asian Achievers Awards are known for their commitment to honouring the achievements of South Asians in leadership roles in politics, business, the arts, and civil society. The Awards have consistently upheld their reputation as a beacon of excellence and prestige within the community.

Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG, shared his enthusiasm for this year’s event: “The Asian Achievers Awards aim to celebrate Asian excellence across the UK. They harbour a special place in the community, documenting our growth and contribution to life in the country over the last two decades. We have been impressed by the breadth and calibre of nominations from across the country this year, which show quite how extensive our positive contribution is across all aspects of British life.”

This year’s shortlist reflects diverse talent and achievements, from business executives to sports personalities and media figures. Notable short listers include Managing Director of Apollo Tyres Neeraj Kanwar, the founders of Indian street food café Chaiiwala, singer Abi Sampa, television doctor Dr Nighat Arif (pictured above), and Leicester City footballer Hamza Choudhury. The shortlist was selected from over 500 nominations and narrowed to four candidates per category, ensuring equal representation of male and female achievers.

The 2024 Awards judging panel boasts a distinguished lineup, including Umer Khan OBE, Commander of the City of London Police; Lubna Shuja, Immediate Past President of the Law Society of England and Wales; and Myles Stacey OBE, former advisor to Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. Their collective expertise and diverse backgrounds embody the spirit of the Awards, ensuring that the winners represent the pinnacle of South Asian achievement in the UK.

Full Shortlist for 2024

Arts and Culture:
Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan

Ariana Abawe

Nikesh Patel

Shreena Patel

Business Person of the Year:

Neeraj Kanwar

Dr. Neeraj Tripathi

Reuben Brothers

Sita Foxon

Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia

Community Service Person of the Year:

Himanshu Jain

Iftikhar Chaudhri BCAv

Rashmi Becker MBE

Satpal Singh

Entrepreneur of the Year:

Mustafa Ali, Sohail Ali, Muhammed Ibrahim of Chaiiwala

Sachinkumar Gupta

Suleman Raza MBE

Varun Bhanot

Dr. Vanita Rattan

Media Person of the Year:

Aditya Chakrabortty

Divia Thani

Shrutitrupathi Chopra

Tasnim Nazeer

Professional of the Year:

Dr. Kesar Singh Sadhra

Geeta Nayar

Rishi Bhuchar

Mamta Rani Singhal MBE

Sports Personality of the Year:

Adil Usman Rashid

Hamza Choudhury

Nasser Hussain

Neil Taylor

Woman of the Year:

Farzana Baduel

Leah Chowdhry

Natasha Asghar MS

Dr. Nighat Arif

Winners will be revealed at the gala ceremony on Friday, September 20, 2024. This event promises to be an evening of celebration, honouring the extraordinary accomplishments of South Asians who continue to shape the UK’s cultural, economic, and social landscape.