LUCKNOW: The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 brought together the biggest names and acclaimed performances under one roof, honoring a year of success while offering a glimpse of what lies ahead. It was an evening that moved quickly, was widely respected, and showed where the Indian game stands today.Smriti Mandhana Leading the way for the Sportsperson of the Year honors in the women’s category, her season was marked by authority and consistency. Also, shooter Samrat Rana was recognized in the men’s category after creating history by becoming the first Indian world champion in 10m air pistol last year, a milestone in his career.India’s sporting excellence in 2025 spans all sectors. Para-Sports Person of the Year: Sheetal Devi and Samit Intl Nowhere was this more evident.Sheetal Devi’s rise has been defined by historic achievements and medal-winning consistency. A world champion and Paralympic medalist, she dominated compound archery and broke barriers, even earning selection in an able-bodied international squad, a first for an Indian para-archer.
Sheetal Devi and Sumit Intel honored as ‘Para Sports Person of the Year’
Samit Intel, meanwhile, continues to set the standard in para-athletics. A multiple-time Paralympic champion and world record holder, he added to his dominance with a gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships, consistently leading the field.From there, the event intensified with a glittering roll call of the crème de la crème of Indian sports. The Indian women’s cricket team won the team honors, underscoring a phase of dominance, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India was named Federation of the Year.Receiving the award on behalf of the board, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla said, “Once again, I would like to thank The Times of India for organizing these awards. It is great to see so many talented people here. Their achievements are truly extraordinary, and it is important that they are recognised.”Divya Deshmukh, who was named Emerging Sports Person of the Year, signaled a new generation ready for the global stage, while Lander Pace was named Mentor of the Year.
Yogi Adityanath at TOISA 2025
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conferred the highest honors at a grand function held at the Centrum in Lucknow.Still, TOISA 2025 was as much about messaging as it was about recognition. As the chief guest, Adityanath laid out a clear policy direction emphasizing the need to promote sports from the grassroots level.“We are working to ensure that every district becomes a hub of sports activities, where facilities, coaching and opportunities are available to all. From village level competitions to international platforms, we aim to create a smooth path for athletes.”He also highlighted the state’s progress in developing sports infrastructure. “In the last 11-12 years, sports culture has developed in the country. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have taken it forward in Uttar Pradesh since 2017,” he added.“On behalf of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, I once again welcome you all. I thank The Times of India Group… for organizing this wonderful platform that recognizes excellence and inspires the next generation,” he concluded.Among the other big winners, Amul Mazamdar was adjudged coach of the year for guiding the women’s team to a historic ICC ODI World Cup title, while Subhash Rana was named para-coach of the year.Shibman Gill and Deepti Sharma were named Cricketers of the Year while Neeraj Chopra and Rupal Chaudhary won the Track and Field award.
Superstars in TOISA 2025
The evening also reflected on the legacy. Mithali Raj and PR Sreejesh were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards, celebrating careers that have shaped the global identity of Indian sport. A forward look came from Devendra Jhajharia, who spoke of a goal of 50 medals at the LA 2028 Paralympics. Not as desired, but as expected.The tone, however, was set at the very beginning. In his keynote, Prasad Sanyal, Group Business Head of TOI, Indiatimes, and WhatsHot, captured the essence of the evening: “More sweat, more glory – that’s the journey Indian sport continues to take.”This was the eighth edition of TOISA, which celebrated the journey and achievements of India’s best athletes across more than 45 sports categories, covering performances from 1 January to 31 December 2025, once again showcasing the growing depth, consistency and ambition of Indian sport.TOISA 2025 Winners List: Smrita Rana, Smriti Mandhana take top honours. Sheetal Devi won the Female Para-Sportsperson of the Year.
