Times of India Sports Awards 2025 Celebrates Excellence and Future Vision
The eighth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 unfolded as a grand celebration of Indian athletic prowess, bringing together luminaries and breakthrough performances under one roof in Lucknow. This prestigious event not only honored a year of remarkable achievements but also set the stage for the future trajectory of sports in the country.
Top Honors and Defining Performances
Smriti Mandhana clinched the Sportsperson of the Year (Female) award, recognized for her authoritative and consistent season in cricket. In the male category, shooter Samrat Rana earned the title after making history by becoming India's first world champion in the 10m air pistol, marking a pivotal career breakthrough.
The awards highlighted India's diverse sporting excellence, particularly in para sports. Sheetal Devi and Sumit Antil were crowned Para Sportspersons of the Year. Sheetal Devi, a world champion and Paralympic medallist in compound archery, has broken barriers by earning selection in an able-bodied international squad—a first for an Indian para archer. Sumit Antil, a multiple-time Paralympic champion and world record holder, reinforced his dominance with gold at the World Para Athletics Championships.
Team and Institutional Recognition
The Indian women's cricket team swept team honors, underscoring their phase of dominance, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was named Federation of the Year. BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla expressed gratitude, stating, "It is wonderful to see so many talented individuals here. Their achievements are truly extraordinary, and it is important that they are recognized."
Other notable winners included Divya Deshmukh as Emerging Sportsperson of the Year, Leander Paes as Mentor of the Year, Amol Muzumdar as Coach of the Year for guiding the women's cricket team to an ICC ODI World Cup title, and Subhash Rana as Para Coach of the Year. Cricketers of the Year were Shubman Gill and Deepti Sharma, with Neeraj Chopra and Rupal Chaudhary taking Track & Field honors.
Legacy and Forward-Looking Messages
The evening also paid tribute to legends, with Mithali Raj and PR Sreejesh receiving Lifetime Achievement awards for shaping India's global sports identity. Looking ahead, Devendra Jhajharia spoke ambitiously of targeting 50 medals at the LA 2028 Paralympics, framing it as an expectation rather than mere ambition.
Prasad Sanyal, Group Business Head of TOI, Indiatimes, and WhatsHot, set the tone with his keynote: "More sweat, more glory—that is the journey Indian sport continues to embrace."
Policy Emphasis on Grassroots Development
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as chief guest, bestowed the top awards and outlined a clear policy direction focused on building sports from the grassroots. He emphasized, "We are working to ensure that every district becomes a centre of sporting activity, where facilities, coaching and opportunities are accessible to all. From village-level competitions to international platforms, our aim is to create a seamless pathway for athletes."
Adityanath highlighted the state's progress in sports infrastructure, noting, "Over the past 11–12 years, a sports culture has developed in the country. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have taken this forward in Uttar Pradesh since 2017." He concluded by thanking The Times of India Group for organizing the platform that inspires the next generation.
TOISA 2025 covered over 45 sporting categories, celebrating performances from January 1 to December 31, 2025, showcasing Indian sport's growing depth, consistency, and ambition.
