National Sports Awards shortlist out: No cricketer, Hardik Singh sole Khel Ratna nominee

India men’s hockey vice-captain Hardik Singh was the sole recommendation for this year’s Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.

While teenage chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh and decathlete Tejaswin Shankar were among the 24 athletes picked for the Arjuna Awards, sources said after a selection committee meeting here on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Hardik has been India’s midfield mainstay and was part of the country’s medal-winning campaigns at the 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympic Games. He also featured in India’s Asia Cup gold-winning side earlier this year.

In a first, Yogasan athlete Aarti Pal has been recommended for the Arjuna Award, five years after the discipline was formally recognised by the Sports Ministry. Aarti is the reigning national and Asian champion in Yogasan, which will be a demonstration sport at the 2026 Asian Games, a well-placed source told PTI.

The awards selection panel, which includes Indian Olympic Association vice-president Gagan Narang, former badminton player Aparna Popat and former hockey player M M Somaya, finalised the remaining Arjuna Award recommendations at the meeting.

At 19, Divya Deshmukh has made history as the first Indian woman to win the Chess World Cup. She will be joined by fellow chess player Vidit Gujrathi among the Arjuna awardees. Tejaswin Shankar, meanwhile, earned recognition after winning a historic silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games and following it up with a runner-up finish at the Asian Championships earlier this year.

Other prominent names recommended for the Arjuna Award include rifle shooter Mehuli Ghosh, a two-time World Championship bronze medallist; gymnast Pranati Nayak; and India’s top women’s badminton doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. Gayatri is the daughter of national coach and former All England champion Pullela Gopichand.

Notably, no cricketer features in this year’s list. Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was the last cricketer to receive the Arjuna Award, in 2023.

The Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour, carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, while Arjuna awardees receive Rs 15 lakh. Last year, the Khel Ratna was conferred on D Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh, Praveen Kumar and Manu Bhaker.

National Sports Awards Recommendations

• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna
• Hardik Singh (Hockey)
• Arjuna Awards
• Tejaswin Shankar (Athletics)
• Priyanka (Athletics)
• Narender (Boxing)
• Vidit Gujrathi (Chess)
• Divya Deshmukh (Chess)
• Dhanush Srikanth (Deaf Shooting)
• Pranati Nayak (Gymnastics)
• Rajkumar Pal (Hockey)
• Surjeet (Kabaddi)
• Nirmala Bhati (Kho Kho)
• Rudransh Khandelwal (Para Shooting)
• Ekta Bhyan (Para Athletics)
• Padmanabh Singh (Polo)
• Arvind Singh (Rowing)
• Akhil Sheoran (Shooting)
• Mehuli Ghosh (Shooting)
• Sutirtha Mukherjee (Table Tennis)
• Sonam Malik (Wrestling)
• Aarti Pal (Yogasan)
• Treesa Jolly (Badminton)
• Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton)
• Lalremsiami (Hockey)
• Mohammed Afsal (Athletics)
• Pooja (Kabaddi)