Arjuna Awards 2025: Tejaswin Shankar, Divya Deshmukh among 17 honoured
Synopsis
India's National Sports Awards 2025 list features two genuine firsts: Tejaswin Shankar, the only Indian to medal in Commonwealth Games decathlon, and Divya Deshmukh, the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women's World Cup — who beat Koneru Humpy in an all-Indian final just days before the announcement. The 17-strong Arjuna Award cohort is one of the most diverse in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
The sports ministry announced National Sports Awards 2025 on 18 August 2025 , naming 17 athletes for the Arjuna Award.
Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon) is the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the decathlon.
Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 , defeating Koneru Humpy 1.5–0.5 in Baku.
Badminton doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Pullela Gayatri Gopichand are among the honourees.
Veteran footballer Isaiah Arumainayagam receives the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for his role in India's 1962 Asian Games gold.
Army Paralympic Node, Pune wins the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar ; coaching honours go to Parveer Singh , Chhote Lal Yadav , and Neha Nandkumar Chavan .
The sports ministry on Tuesday, 18 August 2025, announced the National Sports Awards 2025, naming 17 athletes for the prestigious Arjuna Award. Decathlon star Tejaswin Shankar headlines the list, joined by chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, badminton doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Pullela Gayatri Gopichand, and a cross-section of athletes from track and field, shooting, hockey, kabaddi, and para-sports.
Full Arjuna Award List
The 17 Arjuna Award recipients include Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon), Treesa Jolly and Pullela Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton doubles), Divya Deshmukh (Chess), Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi (Athletics), Priyanka Goswami (Race walking), Narender (Boxing), Vidit Santosh Gujarathi (Chess), Dhanush Srikanth (Para shooting), Lalremsiami Hmarzote (Hockey), Rajkumar Pal (Hockey), Surjeet and Pooja (Kabaddi), Rudransh Khandelwal (Para shooting), Ekta Bhyan (Para athletics), Arvind Singh (Rowing), and Akhil Sheoran (Shooting).
Tejaswin Shankar and Divya Deshmukh: History-Makers
Tejaswin Shankar etched his name in Indian sporting history by claiming a bronze medal in the decathlon at the Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal in the event at the Games. His recognition caps a landmark run in multi-discipline athletics for India.
Divya Deshmukh stunned the global chess community by winning the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025, becoming the first Indian woman to clinch the title. In a remarkable all-Indian final held in Baku, she defeated veteran compatriot Koneru Humpy by 1.5–0.5 in rapid tie-breaks on Monday to complete a fairytale run.
Selection Process and Award Criteria
The awards were determined based on recommendations from a Selection Committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India. According to the ministry, the Arjuna Award recognises outstanding performance over the previous four years and rewards qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline.
Lifetime Honour, Coaching Awards, and Institutional Prize
Veteran Indian footballer Isaiah Arumainayagam will receive the Arjuna Award (Lifetime). He was part of the Indian squad that won gold at the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games and finished second at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup in Israel — achievements that defined a golden era of Indian football.
The Dronacharya Award for coaching excellence goes to athletics coach Parveer Singh, boxing coach Chhote Lal Yadav, and shooting coach Neha Nandkumar Chavan. The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar, awarded to organisations that promote sports, will be conferred upon Army Paralympic Node, Pune.
What Comes Next
The formal presentation ceremony is expected to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, as is customary for the National Sports Awards. This year's list is notable for its strong representation of para-athletes and women across disciplines — a signal of the broadening depth of Indian sport at the elite level.
Point of View
And chess — once a fringe pick — claims two recipients in a single cycle. Divya Deshmukh's inclusion is timely given she won the FIDE Women's World Cup just days before the announcement, but the ministry's four-year performance window means several athletes on the list have been waiting far longer than their peak warranted. The broader question is whether award cycles can keep pace with the speed at which Indian athletes are now breaking barriers.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Arjuna Award 2025 winners?
The Arjuna Award 2025 has been conferred on 17 athletes including Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon), Divya Deshmukh (Chess), Treesa Jolly and Pullela Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton), Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi (Athletics), Priyanka Goswami (Race walking), Narender (Boxing), Vidit Santosh Gujarathi (Chess), and several para-sport and hockey athletes. The full list was announced by the sports ministry on 18 August 2025.
Why is Divya Deshmukh receiving the Arjuna Award?
Divya Deshmukh won the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 in Baku, becoming the first Indian woman to claim the title. She defeated compatriot Koneru Humpy 1.5–0.5 in the rapid tie-breaks of an all-Indian final, a historic achievement that anchors her Arjuna Award recognition.
What is Tejaswin Shankar's historic achievement?
Tejaswin Shankar won a bronze medal in the decathlon at the Commonwealth Games, making him the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in that event at the Games. The milestone placed him at the top of the 2025 Arjuna Award list.
Who received the Arjuna Award for Lifetime achievement in 2025?
Veteran Indian footballer Isaiah Arumainayagam received the Arjuna Award (Lifetime). He was part of the Indian team that won gold at the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games and finished second at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup in Israel.
Who won the Dronacharya Award in 2025?
The Dronacharya Award for coaching was given to three coaches: Parveer Singh (Athletics), Chhote Lal Yadav (Boxing), and Neha Nandkumar Chavan (Shooting). The awards recognise their contributions to developing elite Indian athletes.
