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- Aarti is currently the reigning national and Asian champion in Yogasan, which is set to feature as a demonstration sport at the 2026 Asian Games.
- Adding to his impressive résumé, Hardik was also part of India’s gold medal-winning campaign at the Asia Cup earlier this year, a factor that weighed heavily in his unanimous recommendation for the Khel Ratna.
- Men’s hockey vice-captain Hardik Singh stood out as the lone nominee for the country’s highest sporting honour, while a diverse group of 24 athletes, including rising chess sensation Divya Deshmukh and decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, were named for the Arjuna Awards.
India’s sporting excellence across disciplines found fresh recognition on Wednesday as the national awards selection committee announced its recommendations for this year’s Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards. Men’s hockey vice-captain Hardik Singh stood out as the lone nominee for the country’s highest sporting honour, while a diverse group of 24 athletes, including rising chess sensation Divya Deshmukh and decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, were named for the Arjuna Awards.
At 27, Hardik has established himself as a cornerstone of India’s midfield in international hockey. His contribution to the team’s podium finishes at both the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games underlined his consistency at the highest level. Adding to his impressive résumé, Hardik was also part of India’s gold medal-winning campaign at the Asia Cup earlier this year, a factor that weighed heavily in his unanimous recommendation for the Khel Ratna.
The Arjuna Awards list reflected the breadth of India’s sporting growth, spanning traditional disciplines and emerging sports alike. In a historic first, Yogasan exponent Aarti Pal earned a recommendation, marking a milestone for the discipline five years after it received formal recognition from the Sports Ministry. Aarti is currently the reigning national and Asian champion in Yogasan, which is set to feature as a demonstration sport at the 2026 Asian Games.
Teenage chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh also made headlines, becoming the first Indian woman to win a World Cup title in chess. She was joined on the Arjuna list by fellow grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, reinforcing India’s growing stature in the sport. Athletics found strong representation through Tejaswin Shankar, who followed his historic Asian Games silver medal in 2023 with another runner-up finish at the Asian Championships this year.
Other notable names include rifle shooter Mehuli Ghosh, a two-time World Championship bronze medallist; gymnast Pranati Nayak; and the country’s top women’s badminton pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. Gayatri’s selection added a personal dimension to the honours, as she is the daughter of national coach and former All England champion Pullela Gopichand.
Interestingly, the list featured no cricketers this year, continuing a trend seen since pacer Mohammed Shami last received the Arjuna Award in 2023.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna carries a medallion, citation and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh, while Arjuna Award recipients receive ₹15 lakh along with the honour. Last year, the Khel Ratna was conferred on four athletes, reflecting exceptional achievements across chess, hockey, para-athletics and shooting.
With this year’s recommendations, the awards once again spotlight both established performers and emerging talents, underlining India’s expanding sporting landscape and its promise for the future.
