President Murmu Awards Arjuna Honors to Chess Stars and Football Legend

In a prestigious ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu awarded the Arjuna Awards 2025 to chess grandmasters Divya Jitendra Deshmukh and Vidit Santosh Gujarathi, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the sport. Additionally, former football star Isaiah Arumainayagam received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant impact on Indian football. The National Sports Awards celebrate excellence in sports, highlighting outstanding performances and qualities such as leadership and sportsmanship. Discover more about these remarkable athletes and their achievements in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 13, 2026, 15:31 IST

Arjuna Awards 2025 Presented by President Murmu

On November 13, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award to Chess Grandmasters Divya Jitendra Deshmukh and Vidit Santosh Gujarathi, acknowledging their remarkable accomplishments in chess. Additionally, former Indian football player Isaiah Arumainayagam received the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for his significant contributions to the sport of football.

As highlighted in posts from the official President of India account on X, Divya Jitendra Deshmukh was recognized for her exceptional performance in chess, having secured medals at both the FIDE Chess Olympiad and the Asian Continental Women Chess Championships.

Vidit Gujarathi also earned the Arjuna Award for his impressive achievements in chess, which include notable successes at international competitions such as the FIDE Chess Olympiad, FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament, and the Asian Games.

Isaiah Arumainayagam was honored with the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for his contributions to football, being a member of the Indian football team that won medals in significant international events like the Asian Games and the AFC Asia Cup.

The National Sports Awards are held annually to celebrate excellence and significant contributions to sports. The Arjuna Award specifically acknowledges consistent outstanding performance in sports over the last four years, alongside qualities such as leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline.