~ Tata Steel honoured for its exemplary contribution towards promotion of sports in India ~

Tata Steel was today conferred with “Best Company Promoting Sports “for 2011-2012 at the Global Sports Summit TURF 2011. The summit was organized by FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), an institution which actively pursues the agenda of sports and its development in India. Ms Purnima Mahto, Coach with Tata Archery Academy (TAA) was adjudged “Coach of the year”.

On behalf of Tata Steel, Mr Charles Borromeo, Senior Manager, Sports, Tata Steel Limited received the award. FICCI instituted the awards in 2009 under various categories like sportsperson of the year, coach of the year, exemplary contribution to sports etc. This is the first time that sports committee of FICCI has decided to award a company for the promotion of sports and Tata Steel was undisputable leader across parameters.

Mr Sanjiv Paul, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel stated “ it is a great honour to be recognized by FICCI for our efforts in Sports. Tata Steel has always nurtured the latent sporting talent of the country, especially from the tribal and rural population of India. We at Tata Steel strongly believe that India has a huge pool of sports talent and they need be trained and exposed to national and international competitions to build up their capacities.”

The cause of sports promotion and the development of outstanding sportspersons began at Tata Steel from its founding years. It has now become a way of life for the Company. The number of sports disciplines has increased from five to twenty one. A full-fledged Sports Department in Tata Steel was created to consolidate sports management and administration under a single umbrella and followed up with the establishment of sports academies of excellence for Football, Archery and Athletics and infrastructure for 18 other sports disciplines and 4 Feeder Centres in rural areas. This has paid handsome dividends - 5 Padmashrees, 30 Arjuna Awardees, 21 Olympians and 32 Asian Medalists.

About Tata Steel and Sports
Established in 1907 as one of Asia’s first integrated private sector steel company, Tata Steel Group is among the top-ten global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of over 28 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). It is now the world’s second most geographically diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50. The Tata Steel Group, with a turnover of US$ 26.4 billion in FY ’10, has over 80,000 employees across five continents and is a Fortune 500 company. The Group’s vision is to be the world’s steel industry benchmark in “Value Creation” and “Corporate Citizenship” through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct. Underpinning this vision is a performance culture committed to aspirational targets, safety and social responsibility, continuous improvement, openness and transparency. In 2008, Tata Steel India became the first integrated steel plant in the world, outside Japan, to be awarded the Deming Application Prize 2008 for excellence in Total Quality Management.

Tata Steel is the only Indian company to invest in world-class sports facilities, create academies and maintain and manage international level arenas. The cadets of its Tata Football Academy, the nursery for the sport in India, as well as those of the Tata Archery Academy, the only one of its kind for archery, have justified the faith that the Company has in the talent and ability of its youth. Today, a significant part of the Indian Football team, India’s best archers, some of its finest cricketers, athletes, shooters, a Grand Master and several national and international legends have realized their dreams as a result of the support they have received from TATA Steel Sports Academies.