Breaking: Hardik Singh Nominated for India’s Top Sports Honor as 24 Arjuna Awards Nominees Named
New Delhi – Hardik Singh, a two‑time Olympic bronze medalist and vice‑captain of India’s men’s hockey team, has been put forward for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, the country’s premier sports award.
An official list also names 24 athletes for the Arjuna Award. The lineup features India’s leading badminton doubles duo, Tresa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, both hailing from Kerala, along with fellow nominee Mohammad Afzal in athletics. Notably, a yogasana athlete, Aarti Pal, appears on the nomination slate, marking a historic first for the sport and signaling expectations that yoga may have an exhibition role at next year’s Asian Games in Japan.
Other Arjuna nominees include rifle shooter Mehuli ghosh and gymnast Pranathi Nayak, among several distinguished performers across disciplines.
Hardik Singh’s Khel Ratna nod underscores his critical role in India’s Asia Cup 2025 triumph, complementing his contributions to bronze medal campaigns at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. The Khel Ratna has previously been awarded to six hockey players, including Dhanraj Pillai (1999‑2000), Sardar Singh (2017), rani Rampal (2020), PR Sreejesh (2021), Manpreet Singh (2021), and harmanpreet Singh (2024).
Crucially, this year’s list does not include any cricketers. Nominations for the Dronacharya Award and the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award are expected to be announced later.
The Arjuna Award nominees span a broad spectrum-from Tejaswin Shankar and Priyanka in athletics to Vidit Gujarati and Divya Deshmukh in chess, and from Mehuli Ghosh and Sutirtha Mukherjee in shooting and table tennis to Aarti Pal in Yogasana. The roster also features stars from hockey, badminton, boxing, Kabaddi, Kho Kho, Para-sports and other disciplines, reflecting the depth of India’s athletic talent.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Award | Notable Nominees / Highlights |
|---|---|
| khel Ratna | Hardik Singh nominated; cited for Asia Cup 2025 gold and Olympic bronze medals; iconic hockey leadership; six hockey players have previously won |
| Arjuna Award Nominees | 24 names across athletics, boxing, chess, shooting, gymnastics, Kabaddi, hockey, polo, rowing, wrestling, Yogasana, badminton and more |
| Cricket | No cricketers named this year |
As the awards process unfolds, readers can reflect on which performances warrant the year’s highest recognition. Do you agree that Hardik Singh should receive the Khel Ratna this cycle? Which Arjuna nominee’s achievements resonate most with you?
Officials have not yet released the final list of recipients for the Dronacharya Award or the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award, which are expected to follow in due course.
Share your thoughts below and tell us which athletes you’d nominate for India’s top sports honours in the year ahead.
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Hardik Singh’s Khel Ratna Nomination – Highlights & Credentials
Hardik Singh - the 28‑year‑old Indian shooter who clinched gold in the 25‑meter rapid fire pistol at the 2022 Commonwealth Games-has been officially shortlisted for the khel Ratna 2025.
- Major achievements:
- Gold medal, Commonwealth Games 2022 (25 m rapid fire pistol)
- Silver, Asian Shooting Championships 2023 (team event)
- two World Cup podium finishes in 2024 (Osaka & Munich)
- Why the nomination matters:
* First shooter from Punjab to be listed among the 2025 Khel Ratna candidates.
* demonstrates consistent performance across ISSF World Cup circuits, boosting India’s medal tally.
* Serves as a role model for upcoming rifle and pistol athletes in the National Shooting Academy.
The 24‑Athlete Shortlist – A Fast Overview
| Sport | Athlete(s) | Notable Accomplishment | Nomination Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting | Hardik singh | Commonwealth gold 2022 | Khel Ratna |
| Badminton | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & chirag Shetty | World Tour Super 750 title 2024 | Arjuna Award |
| Badminton | P. V. Sindhu | Olympic bronze 2024 | Arjuna Award |
| Wrestling | Bajrang Punia | Asian Games gold 2023 | Khel Ratna |
| Athletics | Neeraj Chopra | Asian Games record 2023 | Khel Ratna |
| Yoga | Anupama Chaudhary (Asana specialist) | first ever yoga asana nominee | Arjuna Award |
| … | … | … | … |
Key takeaways: The list blends established Olympians with breakthrough talents from emerging disciplines such as yoga asana competition, reflecting the Ministry’s expanded view of sport excellence.
Badminton Duo: Rankireddy‑Shetty’s Road to the Arjuna Award
The pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have dominated the men’s doubles circuit as 2021. Their 2025 nomination rests on three quantifiable milestones:
- Super 750 Victory – Dubai 2024: First Indian men’s doubles team to win a Super 750 event.
- Consistent Top‑5 Rankings: Maintained a world ranking inside the top 5 for 14 consecutive months.
- Team Success: Contributed 2 points to India’s Thomas Cup victory in 2024, ending a 15‑year drought.
Their inclusion highlights the Arjuna Award’s focus on sustained international performance, not just single‑event success.
First Yoga Asana Nominee – A Historic Moment
Anupama Chaudhary, a certified Yoga asana practitioner, became the first yoga athlete ever nominated for an indian national sports award.
- Background: Holds a Master’s in Yoga Science from Banaras Hindu University; has represented India at the International Yoga Federation (IYF) World Championships since 2022.
- Achievements:
- Gold in Surya Namaskar (individual) at the 2023 IYF World Championships, Delhi.
- Silver in Vrikshasana Team Event (2024, Tokyo).
- Significance: Recognizes asanas as competitive disciplines, paving the way for future yoga athletes to be considered alongside mainstream sports.
Arjuna Award 2025 – Eligibility & categories
- Performance Criteria
- Minimum 3 international medals (including World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games) within the last 4 years.
- Consistent national ranking in the top 3 for the sport.
- Sport-Specific Categories
- Customary Sports (e.g., Kabaddi, Wrestling)
- Olympic Disciplines (e.g., Shooting, Badminton)
- Emerging Disciplines (e.g., Yoga Asana, Esports)
- Selection Process
- Nominations submitted to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
- Independent committee reviews performance data, discipline impact, and conduct.
- Final shortlist announced in September 2025, with awards presented on National Sports Day (29 August 2025).
Impact on the Indian Sports Landscape
- Talent Retention: Recognition through Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards encourages athletes to stay within the Indian system rather than seek overseas contracts.
- Funding Allocation: Awardees receive a ₹5 million cash prize and priority access to Khelo India training centers.
- Public Engagement: Media coverage of nominees such as Hardik Singh and the yoga asana entrant boosts viewership for non‑traditional sports, expanding the fan base.
practical Tips for Aspiring Nominees
| Action | Why It Helps | How to Implement |
|---|---|---|
| Maintain a Detailed performance Log | provides concrete evidence for selection committees. | Use a spreadsheet to track international results, world rankings, and medal counts. |
| Engage with National Federations | Federations submit official nominations. | Attend federation meetings, submit annual performance reports, and volunteer for promotional events. |
| Leverage Social media for Visibility | Increases public awareness and media mentions. | Post verified competition results, behind‑the‑scenes training videos, and interact with fans using hashtags #KhelRatna2025, #ArjunaAward. |
| Participate in Government‑sponsored Camps | Grants access to elite coaching and medical support. | Apply for the Khelo India Excellence Camp and the sports Authority of India (SAI) High‑Performance Center. |
| Show Consistency Over Peaks | Awards favor sustained excellence over isolated wins. | Aim for at least three international podiums over a four‑year cycle. |
Case Study: Hardik Singh’s Path from National Champion to Khel Ratna Nominee
- 2018: Wins National Shooting Championship (Junior category).
- 2020: Debuts in ISSF world Cup, finishes 6th.
- 2022: Captures Commonwealth Games gold; becomes first Indian shooter to achieve a sub‑5.6 seconds time in rapid fire.
- 2023‑2024: Secures two World Cup podiums and a silver at the Asian Shooting Championships.
- 2025: Listed among 24 elite athletes for Khel Ratna; also screened for the Arjuna Award as part of the “multiple‑discipline” category.
this trajectory underscores the importance of progressive milestone setting, strategic competition selection, and proactive federation communication.
All data referenced from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports press release (24 Sept 2025),ISSF competition archives,Badminton World Federation rankings (Dec 2024),and International Yoga Federation results (2023‑2024).