National Sports Awards 2025: 17 athletes, including Divya Deshmukh and Vidit Gujrathi, to receive Arjuna Award
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the winners of the National Sports Awards 2025 on August 18, 2026, with 17 athletes selected for the Arjuna Award. Several prominent athletes—including Divya Deshmukh, Vidit Gujrathi, Gayatri Gopichand, Treesa Jolly, and Tejaswin Shankar—were honored, while no athlete was selected for the Khel Ratna this year. The Dronacharya Award was conferred upon outstanding coaches in both regular and lifetime categories, while I. Arumainayagam was selected for the Arjuna Award for lifetime achievement. The Pune-based Army Paralympic Node was awarded the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2025, recognizing its institutional contribution to sports development.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the winners of the National Sports Awards 2025 on August 18, 2026. This year, athletes, coaches, and sports entities demonstrating excellence across various disciplines were honored. These awards serve as a vital means to encourage sporting talent in India and recognize outstanding performances at the international level.
Key Arjuna Award Winners:
A total of 17 athletes have been selected for the Arjuna Award 2025. Prominent among them are chess players Divya Deshmukh and Vidit Gujrathi, badminton players Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, athlete Tejaswin Shankar, boxer Narendra, and shooter Dhanush Srikanth. The Arjuna Award was instituted in 1961 and is conferred upon athletes who have consistently displayed excellence at the international level.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna:
No athlete has been selected for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in the National Sports Awards 2025. The Khel Ratna is India's highest sporting honor. It was established in 1991-92 and recognizes the extraordinary and outstanding performance of a sportsperson. Currently, the Khel Ratna award carries a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.
Dronacharya Award:
The Dronacharya Award is conferred upon outstanding coaches who train athletes. In the 2025 'Regular' category, Parveer Singh (Athletics), Chhote Lal Yadav (Boxing), and Neha Nandkumar Chavan (Shooting) were honored. Dharmendra Singh Yadav (Boxing) and Virendra Kumar (Wrestling) were selected in the 'Lifetime' category. This award recognizes the role of coaching and the development of sporting talent in India.
Arjuna Award (Lifetime Achievement) and Sports Promotion:
Former footballer I. Arumainayagam, a member of the Indian football team that won the gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games, was selected for the Arjuna Award in the Lifetime Achievement category. Meanwhile, the Pune-based Army Paralympic Node was awarded the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar (National Sports Promotion Award) 2025. This award recognizes organizations that contribute to the development and promotion of sports.
Significance for UPSC:
This news is relevant for GS Paper-2 (Youth and Sports Development), GS Paper-3 (Human Resources and Sports Sector), as well as for the Essay and Ethics papers. UPSC aspirants should familiarize themselves with the objectives and distinctions of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar. For the Arjuna Award, emphasis is placed on aspects such as international performance over the preceding four years, leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline.
