President Murmu Honors Indian Athletes with Arjuna Awards 2025

On November 13, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu honored exceptional Indian athletes with the Arjuna Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Notable recipients included Ekta Bhyan, Dhanush Srikanth, and Rudranksh Khandelwal, who were recognized for their remarkable performances in para-athletics and shooting. The awards celebrate excellence in sports, with additional honors for coaches and organizations contributing to sports promotion. This event highlights the achievements of athletes over the past four years, showcasing their dedication and sportsmanship.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 13, 2026, 15:02 IST

Celebrating Excellence in Sports

On November 13, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu awarded the prestigious Arjuna Awards to several remarkable Indian athletes, including World Championship gold medalist Ekta Bhyan, deaf-shooter Dhanush Srikanth, and para-shooter Rudranksh Khandelwal. The ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where numerous athletes and coaches were recognized for their exceptional contributions to sports.

The awards were conferred based on the recommendations of a Selection Committee led by Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra, a former Supreme Court judge. President Murmu's official social media account highlighted Ekta Bhyan's achievements, noting her success in para-athletics, including medals at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games and World Championships in Paris and Kobe.

Athlete Highlights

Ekta Bhyan, a club thrower, secured a gold medal in the F51 category at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe and followed it up with a silver in New Delhi the next year. She boasts three World Championship medals, including a bronze from the 2023 event in Paris. At the Asian Para Games, she won gold in Jakarta 2018 and silver in Hangzhou 2023.

Rudranksh Khandelwal, another notable recipient, earned two silver medals at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, competing in the men's 10-meter air pistol SH1 and the 50-meter pistol mixed SH1 events. He also achieved significant success in the World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Cup, including a gold medal in Changwon and two golds in Al Ain, UAE.

Dhanush Srikanth, a deaf-shooter, was recognized for his impressive performances at global events, including the World Deaf Shooting Championships and the Summer Deaflympics.

Award Criteria and Other Recipients

The Arjuna Award is presented for outstanding performance in sports over the previous four years, emphasizing leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline. Other athletes receiving the award include Tejaswin Shankar (athletics), Muhammad Ajmal Variyathodi (athletics), Priyanka Goswami (athletics), Treesa Jolly (badminton), Gayatri Gopichand (badminton), Narender (boxing), Vidit Santosh Gujarathi (chess), Divya Jitendra Deshmukh (chess), Lalremsiami (hockey), Rajkumar Pal (hockey), Surjeet (kabaddi), Pooja (kabaddi), Arvind Singh (rowing), and Akhil Sheoran (shooting).

Additionally, the Arjuna Awards (Lifetime) will honor former athletes who have significantly contributed to sports post-retirement, with former Indian footballer Arumainayagam among the recipients. The Dronacharya Award will recognize outstanding coaches, including Parveer Singh (athletics), Chhote Lal Yadav (boxing), and Neha Nandkumar Chavan (shooting), while lifetime honors will go to Dharmendra Singh Yadav (boxing) and Virender Kumar (wrestling). The 'Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar' will also be awarded to organizations that have played a vital role in promoting sports, with the Army Paralympic Node in Pune being a notable recipient.