Celebrating Excellence: Highlights from the 8th Annual Hockey India Awards 2025
A Night of Recognition for Indian Hockey
The 8th Annual Hockey India Awards took place in New Delhi on March 27, honoring the top performers and contributors to Indian hockey over the past year. This event brought together players, officials, and Member Units to celebrate excellence in the sport.
Notable dignitaries, including Mansukh Mandaviya, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Raksha Khadse, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, were present at the ceremony, as highlighted in a press release from Hockey India.
Olympians such as Harbinder Singh, Aslam Sher Khan, and Zafar Iqbal were among the attendees, with award presenters including Jugraj Singh and Pargat Singh, who joined in recognizing the achievements of Indian hockey.
Major Awards and Recognitions
Navneet Kaur and Hardik Singh were awarded the prestigious Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2025, each receiving INR 20 lakh in their respective categories. Zafar Iqbal, a key figure in India's 1980 Olympic Gold Medal win, was honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award, which included a cash prize of INR 25 lakh.
Earlier in the day, Raghu Prasad RV was recognized as the FIH Umpire of the Year for 2025, while Ishika was acknowledged for her debut goal against Uruguay during the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Other notable awards included the Poligras Magic Skill Award won by Deepika and the Player of the Tournament title at the Hero Asia Cup awarded to Abhishek.
Team and Individual Achievements
The ceremony also celebrated the gold medal-winning Men's Hockey Team from the Hero Asia Cup, with each player receiving INR 3 lakh. The bronze medal-winning Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team was also honored, with players receiving INR 5 lakh each.
Incentives were awarded to both the Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams for their international match victories, amounting to INR 1.38 crore and INR 69 lakh, respectively.
Emerging Talents and Special Awards
Bichu Devi Kharibam was named Goalkeeper of the Year, while Sanjay received the Defender of the Year award. Sumit and Sukhjeet Singh were recognized as Midfielder and Forward of the Year, respectively, each taking home INR 5 lakh.
Among the upcoming talents, Prince Deep Singh and Sakshi Rana were awarded for their potential, each receiving INR 10 lakh.
Recognition of Milestones
Significant individual milestones were acknowledged, with Manpreet Singh receiving INR 4 lakh for achieving 400 international caps. Other players were recognized for reaching various milestones, with awards ranging from INR 1 lakh to INR 2.5 lakh.
During the event, Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized the importance of sports in national development and the legacy of Indian hockey, while Raksha Khadse highlighted the sport's historical significance and future potential.
Reactions from Award Winners
Navneet Kaur expressed her gratitude for the recognition, attributing her success to her teammates. Hardik Singh, receiving his third Player of the Year award, thanked his support system for their encouragement. Zafar Iqbal also shared his appreciation for the recognition from Hockey India.
Key Winners of the Hockey India 8th Annual Awards 2025
Here are some of the key winners:
INR 5,00,000 - Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year: Winner - Bichu Devi Kharibam
INR 5,00,000 - Hockey India Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year: Winner - Sanjay
INR 5,00,000 - Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year: Winner - Sumit
INR 5,00,000 - Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year: Winner - Sukhjeet Singh
INR 10,00,000 - Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women - Under 21): Winner - Sakshi Rana
INR 10,00,000 - Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Men - Under 21): Winner - Prince Deep Singh
INR 20,00,000 - Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Women): Winner - Navneet Kaur
INR 20,00,000 - Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Men): Winner - Hardik Singh
INR 25,00,000 - Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award: Winner - Zafar Iqbal.