India's soft power - cinema and sports - in focus at TV9 What India Thinks Today (WITT) Inaugural

The Inaugural of the TV9 ‘What India Thinks Today’ (WITT) Global Summit 2024 kicked off on February 25, with a spotlight on India's soft power and a celebration of cinema and sports. Held under the theme, "India: Poised for the Next Big Leap," the inaugural day set a tone for the following days of discussions and initiatives.

In his welcome address, TV9 Network MD and CEO Barun Das, who said, “We are here to celebrate the curtain-raiser with a subject very close to my heart, many well-known faces from the world of sports and entertainment are here today for a purpose – to discuss a bold vision for India. Not as an economic or military power. But as a soft power”.

At a fireside chat held at the event, Union Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur. Speaking about the strides India is making in the arena of sports, he said, “Today, in sports other than cricket, we have a lot of stars to look up to. The government has increased (its) sports budget by about three times”.

Several sports industry personalities participated in the panel discussion on ‘Sports Burnishing: An Opportunity for New India’,  including badminton player Pullela Gopichand, Collage Sports Management CEO Latika Khaneja, Bundesliga CCO Peer Naubert, former FK Austria Vienna CEO Markus Kraetschmer and Tata Motors CVBU CMO Shubhranshu Singh.

The Inaugural day of the summit also featured the TV9 Nakshatra Samman Awards, celebrating contributions by sportspersons and artists. Record-holding athlete Harmilan Bains, para cricket champion Amir Hussain Lone, professional shooter Sift Kaur Samra and badminton champion Anmol Kharb rounded out the list of sporting stars to be honoured.

In the arena of entertainment, superstars Allu Arjun, Raveena Tandon, Grammy award winners Rakesh Chaurasia and V. Selvaganesh were awarded for their contributions to culture.

In a fireside chat, actress Raveena Tandon spoke on the subject of ‘Female Protagonist: The New Hero’ and the problems of a patriarchal society. She said, “When the time came for women to be great at their work, to be masters of their craft, they were told to retire. This is something that I never understand.”

The panel discussion on the same theme saw participation from women leaders from different fields, including National Commission for Women Member Khushbu Sundar, Stiftung Jugendaustausch Bayern MD Mirjam Eisele, football evangelist Julia Farr and GAIL Director HR Ayush Gupta.

The TV9 What India Thinks Today Global Summit 2024 will continue till February 26th. The Global Summit, where distinguished guests from around the world will converge to discuss pressing geopolitical and geo-economic issues, and where the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will deliver the Summit Keynote address, is set to take place on the day.

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