In a landmark announcement for Indian sports, hockey player Hardik Singh, the vice-captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2025. This award, India’s highest sporting honour, recognises outstanding performance and contribution in the field of sports. Remarkably, Hardik Singh is the sole athlete recommended for this top accolade by the selection committee this year.
At 27 years old, Hardik Singh has been an integral part of India’s hockey journey on the international stage. He was a key member of the Indian squad that won medals at the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This year, he played a vital role in securing the gold medal for India at the 2025 Asia Cup, further establishing his status as one of the nation’s most consistent and influential hockey players.
Arjuna Award Recommendations: Cricket-Free List
The selection committee for the Arjuna Award also released its recommendations this year, highlighting 24 athletes across various disciplines. The committee included IOA Vice President Gagan Narang, former badminton player Aparna Popat, and ex-hockey player M.M. Somaiya. Surprisingly, no cricketers were included in this year’s list, which is rare for a sport as popular as cricket in India.
Prominent names recommended for the Arjuna Award include world chess champion Divya Deshmukh and decathlon athlete Tejaswin Shankar. Divya, 20, recently became the first Indian woman to win a World Cup in chess, while Tejaswin Shankar won silver at the 2023 Asian Games and secured second place in the Asian Championships the same year.
Yoga Athlete Makes History
A major milestone this year is the inclusion of a yoga athlete, Aarti Pal, who has been recommended for the Arjuna Award for the first time. This comes five years after the Ministry of Sports officially recognised yoga as a competitive discipline. Aarti is a national and Asian champion and will be representing India in yoga, which will feature as a demonstration sport at the 2026 Asian Games.
Highlights of Hardik Singh’s Career
Hockey player Hardik Singh has consistently demonstrated world-class performance, earning accolades in multiple international tournaments. His career achievements can be summarised in the following table:
| Event | Medal/Position | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Olympics (Tokyo) | Bronze | 2021 |
| Olympics (Paris) | Bronze | 2024 |
| Commonwealth Games (Birmingham) | Silver | 2022 |
| Asian Games (Hangzhou) | Gold | 2022 |
| Asia Cup (Rajgir) | Gold | 2025 |
| Asian Championships (Jakarta) | Gold | 2018 |
| Asian Championships (Delhi) | Gold | 2023 |
| Asian Championships (Dhaka) | Bronze | 2021 |
Hardik Singh’s consistent performance, leadership, and ability to handle pressure make him a deserving recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Other Notable Arjuna Awardees
The Arjuna Award recommendations also recognise athletes from a wide variety of sports, highlighting India’s expanding sporting achievements.
| Sport | Athlete | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Chess | Divya Deshmukh | First Indian woman to win World Cup |
| Chess | Vidit Gujarathi | International titles and achievements |
| Decathlon | Tejaswin Shankar | Silver at 2023 Asian Games, 2nd at Asian Championship |
| Shooting | Mehuli Ghosh | Two-time World Championship bronze medallist |
| Gymnastics | Pranati Nayak | International competitions performance |
| Badminton (Women’s Doubles) | Trisha Jolly & Gayatri Gopichand | National and international wins; Gayatri is daughter of coach Pullela Gopichand |
| Yoga | Aarti Pal | National and Asian Champion |
| Hockey | Rajkumar Pal | National and international contributions |
| Kabaddi | Suraj | National achievements |
| Kho-Kho | Nirmala Bhati | National level performances |
These awards underscore India’s commitment to recognising talent across multiple sporting disciplines, moving beyond cricket and mainstream sports.
Absence of Cricketers
It is notable that this year’s awards list does not include any cricketers, a departure from past trends. The last cricketer to receive such recognition was Mohammad Shami, who won the Arjuna Award in 2023. This year, the focus on other sports highlights the broader talent pool in India and sends a message that achievements across all sporting disciplines are equally valued.
Significance of the Awards
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: India’s highest sporting honour. Recipients receive a medallion, citation, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.
- Arjuna Award: Recognises exceptional performance at national and international levels; includes a citation, trophy, and ₹15 lakh.
These awards not only recognise achievements but also inspire young athletes to pursue excellence in sports, showcasing the importance of dedication, skill, and perseverance.
National Sports Awards-Selected Winners 2025
| Award | Athlete | Sport/Discipline |
|---|---|---|
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna | Hardik Singh | Hockey |
| Arjuna Award | Neeraj Chopra | Athletics |
| Arjuna Award | Priyanka | Athletics |
| Arjuna Award | Dhumal Shridhar | Clay Shooting |
| Arjuna Award | Prateek Nayak | Gymnastics |
| Arjuna Award | Rajkumar Pal | Hockey |
| Arjuna Award | Suraj | Kabaddi |
| Arjuna Award | Nirmala Bhati | Kho-Kho |
| Dronacharya Award | Rupesh Khandavade | Para Shooting |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Aekta Dhyan | Para Athletics |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Pranav Singh | Polo |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Arvind Singh | Rowing |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Ankit Tyagi | Shooting |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Meghali Ghosh | Shooting |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Sutirtha Mukherjee | Table Tennis |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Soham Malik | Wrestling |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Trisha Jolly | Badminton |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Gayatri Gopichand | Badminton |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Lalremsiami | Hockey |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Mohammad Afsal | Athletics |
| Khel Ratna – Other Awardees | Pooja | Kabaddi |
Promoting Excellence Beyond Cricket
The 2025 awards reinforce the importance of recognising sports beyond cricket, celebrating the achievements of athletes from hockey, chess, gymnastics, yoga, shooting, and other fields. Hockey player Hardik Singh exemplifies the talent, dedication, and leadership that Indian sports need, and his recognition with the Khel Ratna Award will inspire the next generation of hockey players and athletes across the country.
Conclusion
The 2025 sports awards mark a turning point in how India acknowledges sporting excellence. With hockey player Hardik Singh receiving the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and a wide array of athletes honoured across various disciplines, this year’s awards demonstrate a commitment to celebrating talent in all corners of Indian sport. The absence of cricketers highlights the evolving perspective on sports recognition and underscores the value of achievements in emerging and traditionally underrepresented disciplines.
These awards, therefore, are not only a tribute to individual excellence but also a beacon for aspiring athletes nationwide, encouraging them to aim for international recognition and contribute to India’s sporting legacy.
