Tejaswin Shankar among 17 named for Arjuna Awards 2025; no Khel Ratna recipient

Tejaswin Shankar heads a list of 17 athletes who will receive the Arjuna Awards 2025, the sports ministry announced on Tuesday, August 18. The announcement did not name anyone for the Khel Ratna award.

The ministry’s list includes world Cup-winning chess player Divya Deshmukh and shuttler Gayatri Gopichand alongside Shankar. Also named were chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, women's doubles player Treesa Jolly, Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medallist boxer Narender, and deaf shooter Dhanush Srikanth. Former India footballer I Arumainayagam has been honoured under the 'Lifetime Achievement' category as a member of the 1962 Asian Games gold-winning team.

Divya Deshmukh became India's fourth woman Grandmaster after her triumph at the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia, a victory cited in the announcement. Her World Cup success and subsequent title were noted among the achievements that underpinned her selection for the Arjuna Award.

Tejaswin Shankar was recognised for his Commonwealth Games decathlon bronze, where he became the first Indian athlete to win a medal in that event at the Games. The ministry highlighted Shankar’s historic podium finish as a key credential for his inclusion on the Arjuna list.

The badminton contingent named includes Gayatri Gopichand and her women's doubles partner Treesa Jolly. Chess representation on the list features Vidit Gujrathi alongside Deshmukh.

Boxer Narender was listed with his Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medal mentioned as part of his credentials. The list also recognises Dhanush Srikanth as a promising deaf shooter invited into the Arjuna Awards group.

I Arumainayagam received the Arjuna Award under the 'Lifetime Achievement' category in recognition of his role on the 1962 Asian Games gold-winning team. “Based on the recommendations of the Selection Committee chaired by a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra, the Government has decided to confer awards on the following sportspersons, coaches and entities under various categories,” read the statement from the ministry.

The ministry said the awards will be conferred on the named sportspersons, coaches and entities under various categories following the Selection Committee's recommendations.