India Announces National Sports Awards 2025: 17 Sportspersons Named for Arjuna Award

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has announced the National Sports Awards 2025, recognising excellence across sports and games. The awardees were selected based on recommendations from a Selection Committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra, comprising eminent sportspersons, sports journalists, and administrators. Applications for the awards were invited online, with sportspersons, coaches, and entities allowed to self-apply through a dedicated portal.

List of 17 Sportspersons Selected for the Arjuna Award 2025

The 2025 Arjuna Award list spans multiple disciplines including:

1. Shri Tejaswin Shankar - Athletics
2. Shri Muhammed Ajmal - Athletics
3. Ms. Priyanka Goswami - Athletics
4. Ms.Treesa Jolly - Badminton
5. Ms Pullela Gayatri Gopichand - Badminton
6. Shri Narender - Boxing
7. Shri Vidit Santosh Gujarathi - Chess
8. Ms. Divya Jitendra Deshmukh - Chess
9. Shri Dhanush Srikanth - Deaf shooting
10. Ms. Lalremsiami - Hockey
11. Shri Rajkumar Pal - Hockey
12. Shri Surjeet - Kabaddi
13. Ms. Pooja - Kabaddi
14. Shri Rudransh Khandelwal - Para-shooting
15. Ms. Ekta Bhyan - Para athletics
16. Shri Arvind Singh - Rowing
17. Shri Akhil Sheoran - Shooting

Winner of Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2025

This year, the Lifetime Arjuna Award has been conferred on Shri I Arumainayagam for his contributions to football.

List of Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games 2025

The Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games is given to coaches. 

In the regular category, three coaches have been honoured

1. Parveer Singh (Athletics) 
2. Chhote Lal Yadav (Boxing) 
3. Neha Nandkumar Chavan (Shooting). 

In the Lifetime category, two coaches received the award.

1. Dharmendra Singh Yadav (Boxing) 
2. Virender Kumar (Wrestling) 

Winner of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2025

The Army Paralympic Node, Pune, has been selected as the recipient of the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2025 for its contribution to sports promotion.

Types of National Sport Award 2025

Arjuna Award

The Arjuna Award recognises outstanding performance in sports over the previous four years, along with qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline.

Arjuna Award (Lifetime)

This category honours sportspersons who have contributed significantly to sports through their performance and continue supporting sports promotion even after retiring from active careers.

Dronacharya Award

Given to coaches who have consistently done outstanding, meritorious work and helped sportspersons excel at international events.
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
This award recognises corporate entities and NGOs that have played a visible role in promoting and developing sports in India.