As a diaspora, South Asians working and playing in the sports industry are few and far between. SAinSports aims to change that by being a network and resource for professionals and recent college graduates looking to enter the sports industry. Let’s take a look at some very successful South Asian men and women breaking barriers and creating pathways in the fields of sports journalism, coaching and healthcare.

Here are 6 Noteworthy South Asians making a name for themselves in sports:

Arman Singh Walia (@ArmanWalia): Assistant Managing Editor at Bleacher Report.

Arman is a Gettysburgh College graduate and after spending time in accounting, marketing and sales he focused on Social Media. After being a Social Media Producer/Editor for the Huffington Post and CBS, Arman landed the role of Assistant Managing Editor of Social Moments at the Bleacher Report.

Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah): SEC writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s SEC Country (college football writer).

Shehan’s path in journalism was straightforward. After graduating from Baylor with a Bachelor’s in Journalism, Shehan worked as columnist and editor and major publications including Sports Illustrated Kids, Bleacher Report and ESPN.

Christy Thomaskutty (@CoachSkutty): Emory University’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Thomaskutty played college basketball at Tulane University where she graduated magna cum laude (Bachelor of Science in Management) from Tulane’s A. B. Freeman School of Business. She later earned her master’s degree (Masters of Business Administration) from Illinois State. Before becoming head coach, Christy spent the previous six seasons as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level, five at Illinois State University and one at Saint Louis University.



Dr. Neeru Jayanthi (NeeruJayanthi): Emory sports medicine and tennis medicine physician.

Before joining Emory Healthcare, Neeru spent 11 years as the Medical Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center.



Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant): Houston Texan’s Reporter.

Deepi completed her undergraduate degree in B.S. Electrical Engineering from Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis and her M.B.A. University of Houston 2002. She spent 14 years as on-air talent for South Asian radio station GenerAsian Radio before moving over to CBS Radio and Sports Radio 610 as a writer and on-air talent. She is now the Integrated Media Manager for the Houston Texans including writing, broadcasting, social media.



Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania): Writer for TheVertical on Yahoo, covers the NBA.

Shams completed his undegraduate degree in Communications from Loyola University of Chicago. He became a sports writer for Chicago Tribune Media Group covering the Chicago Bulls then switched to healthcare before returning back to sports journalism. Sham’s exclusive focus on the NBA earned him the position of NBA Writer for Yahoo.com.