National Sports Awards 2025 Winners Announced
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has announced the winners of the National Sports Awards 2025, recognising outstanding performances and contributions across several sporting disciplines.
This year, 17 sportspersons have been selected for the Arjuna Award, while one athlete has been chosen for the Arjuna Award (Lifetime). Five coaches have also been selected for the Dronacharya Award.
Full List of Arjuna Award Winners
The 17 athletes selected for the Arjuna Award represent a wide range of sporting disciplines.
Tejaswin Shankar – Athletics
Muhammed Ajmal V – Athletics
Priyanka Goswami – Athletics
Treesa Jolly – Badminton
Pullela Gayatri Gopichand – Badminton
Narender – Boxing
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi – Chess
Divya Jitendra Deshmukh – Chess
Dhanush Srikanth – Deaf Shooting
Lalremsiami – Hockey
Rajkumar Pal – Hockey
Surjeet – Kabaddi
Pooja – Kabaddi
Rudransh Khandelwal – Para-Shooting
Ekta Bhyan – Para-Athletics
Arvind Singh – Rowing
Akhil Sheoran – Shooting.
Tejaswin Shankar Among the Honourees
Indian athlete Tejaswin Shankar is among the prominent names receiving the Arjuna Award this year.
Known for his performances in athletics, Shankar has represented India at major international competitions and has built a strong reputation across multiple disciplines.
Chess Stars Receive Recognition
Chess players Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and Divya Jitendra Deshmukh are also among this year's Arjuna Award recipients.
Their inclusion highlights the growing recognition of India's achievements in international chess.
Divya, in particular, has emerged as one of India's leading young chess talents, while Vidit has been a consistent presence at the highest level of international competition.
Badminton Duo Treesa and Gayatri Honoured
India's prominent women's doubles combination of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand has also received national recognition.
The pair has established itself as an important part of India's international badminton programme through consistent performances.
Hockey Players on the List
Hockey players Lalremsiami and Rajkumar Pal have been selected for the Arjuna Award.
Both have played important roles in India's hockey setup and have contributed to the country's continued presence at the international level.
Kabaddi Gets Recognition
The Arjuna Award list also includes kabaddi players Surjeet and Pooja.
Their inclusion reflects the continued importance of kabaddi among India's major competitive sports and the achievements of its athletes at national and international levels.
Para Athletes Receive National Honour
Para-sports have also received significant representation.
Rudransh Khandelwal has been recognised in para-shooting, while Ekta Bhyan has been selected in para-athletics.
The recognition highlights the growing contribution of Indian para-athletes to the country's international sporting achievements.
Arjuna Award for Lifetime Achievement
Footballer I Arumainayagam has been selected for the Arjuna Award (Lifetime).
The lifetime category recognises sportspersons who have made a lasting contribution through their sporting achievements and continued involvement in the promotion and development of sports after active competition.
Dronacharya Award Winners
Five coaches have been selected for the Dronacharya Award.
Regular category:
Parveer Singh – Athletics
Chhote Lal Yadav – Boxing
Neha Nandkumar Chavan – Shooting
Lifetime category:
Dharmendra Singh Yadav – Boxing
Virender Kumar – Wrestling.
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
The Army Paralympic Node, Pune has been selected for the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar.
The award recognises organisations that make a significant contribution to promoting and developing sports.
How Were the Awards Selected?
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports invited applications through an online platform.
Athletes, coaches and eligible organisations were able to submit their applications through the dedicated process.
The selection committee was headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Kumar Mishra and included eminent sportspersons, sports journalists and sports administrators.
What Does the Arjuna Award Recognise?
The Arjuna Award is given for outstanding performance in sports over the preceding four years.
The selection process also considers qualities such as leadership, sportsmanship and discipline, making the award an important recognition of both sporting performance and conduct.
Significance for Indian Sports
National Sports Awards play an important role in recognising athletes across both mainstream and emerging sporting disciplines.
The 2025 list includes athletes from athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, hockey, kabaddi, para-sports, rowing and shooting.
The diversity of disciplines represented in the awards reflects the expanding competitive strength of Indian sport.
Encouraging the Next Generation
Recognition at the national level can provide an important boost to athletes who are building long-term careers.
The Arjuna Award also gives younger athletes an example of the level of consistency and discipline required to reach the top of Indian sport.
For disciplines that receive less mainstream attention, such recognition can further increase visibility and encourage participation.
Conclusion
The National Sports Awards 2025 have recognised 17 athletes with the Arjuna Award, including Tejaswin Shankar, Muhammed Ajmal, Priyanka Goswami, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Vidit Gujrathi and Divya Deshmukh.
Footballer I Arumainayagam has received the Arjuna Award (Lifetime), while five coaches have been selected for the Dronacharya Award.
The Army Paralympic Node, Pune, has also been recognised with the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar.
The awards underline the breadth of India's sporting talent and recognise athletes and coaches who have contributed to the country's growing presence across multiple disciplines.
