Sangakkara honoured at Asian Awards 2015 in London

Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara was presented with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Sport at the fifth Annual Asian Awards held in London last night.

The 37-year-old is the second Sri Lankan to win the award after Muttiah Muralitharan who won it in 2011.

Last year, Indian skipper MS Dhoni was the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award, while Sachin Tendulkar won it in the inaugural edition of the awards in 2010.

Also recognised at the awards, which celebrate excellence across the global Pan-Asian community, were Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, fashion designer John Rocha and former One Direction member Zayn Malik.

The Outstanding Achievement in Television award went to comedian, actor and broadcaster, Sanjeev Bhaskar, while the Hinduja brothers were awarded as Business Leaders of the Year.

Entrepreneur Paul Sagoo, who launched the awards in 2010, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the staggering success of The Asian Awards this year and the remarkable level of support we’ve received.

The event, hosted by TV presenter Gok Wan, saw an exclusive preview performance of Gurinder Chadha’s upcoming West End show, Bend It Like Beckham - The Musical, adapted from the 2002 film starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley.

The Asian Awards 2015 was held at The Grosvenor House Hotel on April 17, 2015 in London, England.