1-on-1 with Manish Bhasin

MANISH BHASIN can usually be found fronting the BBC's Football League Show on a Saturday night.

The popular presenter has been one of the faces of the beautiful game on the BBC for a few years, having become the first Asian to host Football Focus, the channel's flagship preview programme.

Bhasin is also a regular fixture at the British Asian Sports Awards (BASA), and this year, he was part of the judging panel which selected this year's shortlist.

BASA’s Zohaib Rashid caught up with the Leicester City fan to talk about his role as BASA judge, what he makes of the shortlist and why the awards night is one not to miss!

So Manish, we'll start off with a very serious question. Are you disappointed there's no award for sports presenter of the year at the British Asian Sports Awards (BASA)?

(Laughs) There'd only be one winner! That's a really good question. I've never thought about that before. There should be one and I'm going to campaign for one!

We'll see if the organisers change their plans for next year! But tell us, what does it mean to be a BASA judge?

It's a privilege because there's so much effort and weight that's gone in on behalf of the nominations. You've got a lot of talented people out there and you want them to be rewarded.

How hard was it to put together the shortlist?

It was near on impossible to whittle down the candidates from hundreds to just 21. The hard bit is out of the way now and whoever wins on the day, well done to them. But the other candidates who don't win will be unfortunate to miss out because they're also winners.

You're better known as the host of the Football League Show and being a big Leicester City fan. How happy are you to see the club being represented this year by Raajan Singh Gill (Who is up for the Male Junior Sports Personality of the Year award along with Pavan Sagoo and Shivsinh Thakor)?

You know what, that was news to me! Leicester City, in the past, have had a close association with the Asian community and there's always either someone coming through the youth ranks or on the coaching staff. It's great to see. Leicester have got Aman Verma who has been on the fringes of the first team. He's currently on loan at Darlington. Maybe were edging closer to the day a British Asian from Leicester plays for the Foxes.

And another footballer who is up for an award is Cardiff City's Michael Chopra (who is fighting it out with Raj Hundal and Luciano Bacheta for the Sports Personality of the Year award)...

Injuries have been holding him back but he's a talented player. I'm so glad he's now thinking of playing his international football for India. There's some politics involved but if he represents India, it will be fantastic for him. He knows it would be impossible to emulate Alan Shearer, playing for Newcastle and then England so playing for India will be just as much a feather in his cap and I'll certainly back him all the way to get there.

Now, Manish, you've been to quite a few BASA award nights over the year. What makes the glittering gala dinner so special?

The do itself is brilliant and it's so well put together. There is a reputation when it comes to putting on an Asian do and it’s not as professional as you want it to be. The BBC do the annual Sports Personality of the Year awards which is up there with the best and I honestly don't think BASA is too far behind. The venue (for BASA) is second to none, the organisation is brilliant and there are a lot of big name who attend. If you can attract the big stars, then you start turning heads. Over the years, you've had the likes of Jermaine Jackson and Michael Vaughan. I remember going to the second BASA awards night and remember Girls Aloud were there. I remember thinking 'how did they get them there?' BASA have done brilliantly and they seem to be going from strength to strength so well done to BASA.

Some people question the need for an Asian-specific awards ceremony, what are your thoughts on that point?

Anything that rewards hard work and effort is a good thing. It's not positive discrimination because no one else is going to hold an Asian awards ceremony if you're not going to do it yourself. We're celebrating the talent and effort of sports men and women from the Asian community who are going on to make it big in the mainstream. Even Amir Khan, who is a big name now, was first spotted by BASA before the Olympics. We might have another winner this year who goes on to make it big.