From the Beijing Winter Olympics to Argentina winning the FIFA World Cup, 2022 has been packed with massive sporting moments.
We’ve whooped when underdogs won, cried when legends called time on outstanding careers, and most of all, been moved by what we saw on the pitches, courts and circuits throughout the past 12 months.
But sports isn’t only about the spectacular. And at QNET, we have been especially inspired by the meaningful successes, both big and small, of our sports partners.
Here’s a look at some of those winning moments in QNET Sports:
Man City: Developing For The Future
A come-from-behind victory on the last day of the season to secure a fourth league title in five years, continued dominance in the English Premier League, the signing of a young goal-poacher who’s been an instant hit… there have been many bright spots over the past twelve months for QNET’s beloved Manchester City.
Yet it is the club’s focus on the future, from its talent development programmes to the embracing of new technologies, that stands out most of all. The lesson for everyone here, including entrepreneurs, is that winning in the future necessitates a good foundation today.
Man City Women: Never Say Die
Like the men’s team, Manchester City’s Women have also achieved much in 2022. And in a year of many highlights, including record-breaking crowds at the Etihad, it is the Sky Blues’ Continental Tyres League Cup win that’s most special for displaying the team’s resolve.
Yes, there were large portions of that final match against Chelsea on 5 March when it seemed like the Cityzens would come away empty-handed. Yet, grit and tenacity won in the end and reminded us that success is never predetermined but rather down to how much one wants it.
Quest Motorsports: Developing Champions
Chetan Korada has never had it easy, what with losing his feet while still a toddler. But the racing ace has always been driven and, as a result, has achieved things no one else could.
Now, however, Chetan has set his sights on raising others, and 2022 saw him focus especially on his academy, Quest Motorsports, which provides a platform for young persons of all abilities to realise their potential. Building other champions — now that’s truly what being a winner is all about.
Confederation of African Football: A Massive Victory
The past 12 months have seen African football score big, with a team from the continent making it to the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time. And we at QNET have been especially proud to have played a part in that success via our partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
QNET’s support of CAF in 2022 included the Champions League, Confederation Cup and Super Cup, and all those competitions, which have showcased the talents of African football’s most luminous stars, have helped build towards football’s elite nations finally recognise the continent’s importance.
PJ City: A Platform For Success
Grassroots football development has always been a passion of QNET’s founders. The past year in the Malaysian Super League saw that commitment reap the rewards, with several homegrown football starlets coming into their own with PJ City.
From V. Ruventhiran to Aqil Razak, Zainal Abidin Jamil, Jeremy Lim and Syahmi Zamri, it was The Phoenix’s youth stars that shone brightest last year, proving that with the right platform and dedication, talent can and will shine through.
Galatasaray Women’s Volleyball Team: Breaking Down Barriers
Galatasaray Women’s Volleyball Team has been slowly building towards victory in the Turkish Women’s Volleyball League. And the past year saw the team take another step towards its goal with important wins and, crucially, a partnership with QNET. This company has long strived to empower women and other marginalised communities globally.
Women’s volleyball has been gaining popularity in Turkey, with young girls now viewing a professional career as viable. As such, Galatasaray’s formidable showing in the league this year — with the QNET name emblazoned across the backs of players’ jerseys — will go a long way in raising the stature of the game.
ANOPA Project: Transforming Lives
Sports can be transformative. And over the near-three years of QNET’s partnership with the ANOPA Project, and especially in 2022, we have witnessed first-hand how sports can develop and transform the lives of differently-abled kids.
ANOPA, essentially, uses basketball and swimming as tools for empowerment. And what has been particularly heartening to see is how children with visual and hearing impairments in Cape Coast, Ghana, whose lives were literally and figuratively dark, have grown to not only love sports but dream of brighter futures.
A perfect combination
Sports have long held the potential to entertain, inspire and unite the world.
Yet not everyone recognises and appreciates the qualities necessary for success in sports, such as hard work, determination, confidence, and a desire to improve oneself and those around one.
We, however, do as those are the same qualities that drive entrepreneurship. It is, thus, why QNET continues to be inspired by the success of our sports partners.
