The Arjuna Award 2026 will honor 24 athletes across various sports disciplines. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the nominations in December 2025, with Hardik Singh (hockey) as the sole Khel Ratna nominee.
This guide covers the complete list of nominees, recent winners from the 2024 awards, eligibility criteria, prize money, and everything else you need to know about India’s second-highest sporting honor.
What is the Arjuna Award?
The Arjuna Award is India’s second-highest sporting honor after the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. It recognizes athletes who demonstrate consistent performance at the international level over four years.
Established in 1961, the award is named after Arjuna from the Mahabharata. In Hindu mythology, Arjuna symbolizes hard work, dedication, and concentration. Perfect qualities for any sportsperson.
The President of India presents these awards annually. Before 1991, the Arjuna Award was India’s highest sporting honor.
Arjuna Award 2025 Nominees (To Be Awarded in 2026)
The selection committee finalized the list of 24 athletes for the Arjuna Award 2025 on December 24, 2025. These athletes will receive their awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan in early 2026.
The panel included Gagan Narang (IOA Vice-President and Olympic medallist), MM Somaya (1980 Olympics gold medallist), and Aparna Popat (former badminton star).
Complete List of Arjuna Award 2025 Nominees
| S.No | Athlete Name | Sport | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tejaswin Shankar | Athletics (Decathlon) | Asian Games Silver 2023 |
| 2 | Priyanka Goswami | Athletics (Race Walk) | CWG Silver 2022 |
| 3 | Mohammed Afsal | Athletics (800m) | National Record Holder |
| 4 | Narender Berwal | Boxing | World Championships Medal |
| 5 | Vidit Gujrathi | Chess | Grandmaster, Olympiad Gold |
| 6 | Divya Deshmukh | Chess | First Indian Woman World Cup Winner |
| 7 | Dhanush Srikanth | Deaf Shooting | Deaflympics Medallist |
| 8 | Pranati Nayak | Gymnastics | Asian Championships Medal |
| 9 | Rajkumar Pal | Hockey | Olympic Bronze Team Member |
| 10 | Lalremsiami | Hockey (Women) | FIH Rising Star Award |
| 11 | Surjeet Singh | Kabaddi | Asian Games Gold |
| 12 | Pooja | Kabaddi | International Champion |
| 13 | Nirmala Bhati | Kho Kho | National Champion |
| 14 | Rudransh Khandelwal | Para-Shooting | World Championships Medal |
| 15 | Ekta Bhyan | Para-Athletics | Asian Para Games Medal |
| 16 | Padmanabh Singh | Polo | Royal Jaipur Polo Team |
| 17 | Arvind Singh | Rowing | Asian Games Medallist |
| 18 | Akhil Sheoran | Shooting | World Cup Gold |
| 19 | Mehuli Ghosh | Shooting | 2x World Championships Bronze |
| 20 | Sutirtha Mukherjee | Table Tennis | CWG Medallist |
| 21 | Sonam Malik | Wrestling | Asian Championships Medal |
| 22 | Aarti Pal | Yogasana | National & Asian Champion |
| 23 | Treesa Jolly | Badminton | Top-ranked Doubles Pair |
| 24 | Gayatri Gopichand | Badminton | Top-ranked Doubles Pair |
Key Highlights of 2025 Nominations
First Yogasana Athlete Ever – Aarti Pal becomes the first Yogasana athlete nominated for the Arjuna Award. The discipline received formal recognition just five years ago.
No Cricketers This Year – For the second consecutive year, no cricketer features in the nominations. Mohammed Shami was the last cricketer to receive the Arjuna Award in 2023.
Chess Makes Strong Showing – Divya Deshmukh, 19, became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup. She’s nominated alongside Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi.
Diverse Sports Representation – The list spans 17 different sports, including indigenous games like Kho Kho and traditional disciplines like Polo.
Arjuna Award 2024 Winners (Awarded January 2025)
The National Sports Awards 2024 were announced on January 2, 2025, and presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025. A record 32 athletes received the Arjuna Award.
The performances at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics heavily influenced the selection. An unprecedented 17 para-athletes were honored, reflecting India’s best-ever showing at the Paralympics with 29 medals.
Arjuna Award 2024 Winners by Sport
Athletics: Jyothi Yarraji (Hurdles), Annu Rani (Javelin)
Boxing: Nitu Ghangas (World Champion), Saweety (World Champion)
Chess: Vantika Agrawal (Olympiad Gold)
Hockey: Salima Tete (Women’s Captain), Abhishek, Sanjay, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh
Shooting: Swapnil Kusale (Olympic Bronze), Sarabjot Singh (Olympic Bronze)
Wrestling: Aman Sehrawat (Olympic Bronze)
Swimming: Sajan Prakash (Olympian)
Squash: Abhay Singh
Para-Athletes Arjuna Award 2024 Winners (17 Athletes)
| Athlete | Sport | Paris Paralympics Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Preeti Pal | Para-Athletics | Bronze (100m, 200m) |
| Jeevanji Deepthi | Para-Athletics | Bronze |
| Ajeet Singh | Para-Athletics | Gold (Javelin F46) |
| Sachin Sarjerao Khilari | Para-Athletics | Silver (Shot Put) |
| Dharambir | Para-Athletics | Gold (Club Throw) |
| Pranav Soorma | Para-Athletics | Silver (Club Throw) |
| Navdeep Singh | Para-Athletics | Gold (Javelin) |
| Simran | Para-Athletics | Bronze |
| H Hokato Sema | Para-Athletics | Bronze |
| Rakesh Kumar | Para-Archery | Bronze |
| Nitesh Kumar | Para-Badminton | Gold |
| Mona Agarwal | Para-Shooting | Bronze |
| Rubina Francis | Para-Shooting | Bronze |
Arjuna Award (Lifetime) 2024 Winners
Sucha Singh (Athletics) – For his outstanding contribution to Indian athletics over decades.
Murlikant Rajaram Petkar (Para-Swimming) – The 80-year-old war hero and India’s first Paralympic gold medallist (1972) received a standing ovation at the ceremony.
Arjuna Award Prize Money and Components
The Arjuna Award comes with significant recognition and financial reward. Here’s what winners receive:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Cash Prize | ₹15 Lakh (approximately $18,000 USD) |
| Bronze Statuette | Miniature of Arjuna, the legendary archer |
| Certificate | Signed citation from the President of India |
| Ceremonial Dress | Traditional attire for the ceremony |
For comparison, the Khel Ratna Award carries a cash prize of ₹25 Lakh.
Arjuna Award Eligibility Criteria
Not everyone can win an Arjuna Award. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has strict eligibility requirements:
1. Consistent Performance – Athletes must show excellent performance over at least four years at the international level.
2. Leadership Qualities – Winners should demonstrate qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline.
3. Clean Record – Athletes under investigation for doping, fraud, or criminal activities are ineligible.
4. Recognized Sports – The sport must feature in the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, World Cup, or be cricket/indigenous games.
5. 80% Weightage on Medals – Medal performance in major events receives 80% weightage in the selection process.
How Arjuna Award Nominations Work
The nomination process involves multiple stakeholders. Here’s who can nominate athletes:
National Sports Federations – Up to 3 nominations each
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) – Up to 3 nominations
State Governments – Up to 3 nominations each
Sports Authority of India (SAI) – Up to 3 nominations
BCCI (for cricketers) – Up to 3 nominations
Previous Award Winners – Can nominate 1 athlete from their own sport
Self-Application – Athletes can now apply directly through the online portal
Nominations must be submitted by end of April each year. In Olympic/Asian Games years, the deadline extends to 10 days after the games conclude.
Famous Arjuna Award Winners in History
Since 1961, the Arjuna Award has honored India’s greatest athletes. Here are some legendary recipients:
Cricket Legends
Sachin Tendulkar (1994) – The Master Blaster received the award early in his career before his Khel Ratna in 1997.
Virat Kohli (2013) – Awarded during his rise as India’s future captain.
Rohit Sharma (2020) – The Hitman received the honor after establishing himself as one of India’s greatest openers.
MS Dhoni (2008) – Before his legendary World Cup-winning captaincy.
Olympic Medallists
Abhinav Bindra (2000) – India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist in shooting.
PV Sindhu (2013) – Before becoming India’s most decorated Olympic badminton player.
Saina Nehwal (2009) – India’s first woman shuttler to reach World No. 1.
When Are National Sports Awards Announced?
Traditionally, the National Sports Awards are presented on August 29, which is celebrated as National Sports Day. This date marks the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
However, in Olympic years (like 2024), the ceremony may be delayed. The 2024 awards were announced on January 2, 2025, and presented on January 17, 2025.
The 2025 nominations were finalized on December 24, 2025. The ceremony is expected in early 2026.
Also Read:
The Arjuna Award remains India’s most prestigious recognition for consistent sporting excellence
The 2025 nominations showcase India’s growing diversity in sports, from traditional hockey and athletics to emerging disciplines like Yogasana.
With 24 athletes nominated across 17 sports, the upcoming 2026 ceremony promises to honor a new generation of champions. From chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh to hockey star Hardik Singh (Khel Ratna nominee), Indian sports are in excellent hands.
