Arjuna Awards 2025 Announced With 17 Athletes Honoured
The 2025 National Sports Awards recognise 17 athletes with Arjuna Awards, while no Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna is given this year. Several promising Indian sporting talents feature prominently.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has announced the National Sports Awards for 2025, with 17 athletes selected for the prestigious Arjuna Award.
The list includes several well known names from Indian sport. Chess player Divya Deshmukh, who has made a strong mark on the international stage, is among the recipients. High jumper Tejaswin Shankar, decathlete and badminton player Gayatri Gopichand have also been recognised for their performances.
Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, Gayatri Gopichand’s doubles partner Treesa Jolly, boxer Narender Berwal and rifle shooter Dhanush Srikanth are also part of this year’s Arjuna Award list.
The selection process was more selective than usual. The committee initially recommended 24 names for the Arjuna Award, but the government approved awards for only 17 athletes. Officials carried out detailed screening to ensure that recognition went only to eligible and deserving sportspersons.
The stricter evaluation process also contributed to the delay in announcing the awards, with the final declaration coming around six months later than expected.
One notable decision this year is the absence of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. The government has not selected any sportsperson for the country’s highest sporting honour for 2025.
Former footballer Arumainayagam, a gold medallist at the 1962 Asian Games, has been named for the Arjuna Award for Lifetime Achievement. His recognition adds a historic touch to this year’s honours.
The awards also recognise the contribution of coaches. Three coaches have been selected for the Dronacharya Award in the regular category. Athletics coach Parveer Singh, boxing coach Chhotelal Yadav and shooting coach Neha Nandakumar are among those honoured.
The Dronacharya Award for Lifetime Achievement has gone to boxing coach Dharmendra Singh Yadav and wrestling coach Virendra Kumar.
The 2025 awards therefore bring recognition across several sporting disciplines, highlighting both established performers and athletes who have emerged strongly in recent years.
