TOISA 2025 Awards Ceremony Scheduled for March 2026 in Lucknow
The eighth edition of the prestigious Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) is set to take place on March 21, 2026, in the vibrant city of Lucknow. This grand event will celebrate the remarkable achievements and inspiring journeys of India's top athletes across a diverse range of sports disciplines.
Honoring Excellence in Indian Sport
TOISA 2025 will specifically recognize outstanding performances from the period of January 1 to December 31, 2025. The awards will highlight standout moments from global championships and international tournaments, ensuring that both iconic sporting legends and emerging talents who brought immense pride to the nation are acknowledged.
With more than 45 categories, the awards aim to provide comprehensive coverage of India's sporting landscape. The selection process will be overseen by a distinguished jury comprising some of India's most revered sporting legends, including Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal, and Leander Paes. This esteemed panel guarantees credible and authoritative recognition of excellence in Indian sport.
Tennis Nominees for TOISA 2025
Among the numerous categories, the tennis nominations showcase a mix of retiring legends and rising stars who made significant impacts in 2025.
Tennis (Male)
Rohan Bopanna
- Date of Birth: March 4, 1980
- Place of Birth: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Sport: Tennis
- Major Achievements in 2025: Played his final Grand Slam match at the US Open, partnered with Alexander Bublik in his last tour-level appearance at the Paris Masters, and officially retired from professional tennis in November 2025 at age 45.
Rohan Bopanna, a true legend of the sport, brought his illustrious two-decade career to a close in 2025. After achieving the milestone of becoming the oldest World No. 1 and a Grand Slam champion in 2024, Bopanna used his final season to bid a heartfelt farewell to the global circuit. His retirement marked the end of an era for Indian tennis, leaving behind an enduring legacy that includes 26 ATP titles and two Grand Slam crowns.
Yuki Bhambri
- Date of Birth: July 4, 1992
- Place of Birth: New Delhi
- Sport: Tennis
- Major Achievements in 2025: Won the doubles title at the Dubai Tennis Championships (ATP 500) with Alexei Popyrin, reached his first-ever Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open with Michael Venus, broke into the World Top 20 in doubles, and surpassed Rohan Bopanna to become India's No. 1 ranked doubles player.
Yuki Bhambri enjoyed a sensational 2025, firmly establishing himself as one of the world's elite doubles specialists. He secured his maiden ATP 500 title in Dubai and made a historic run to the semi-finals of the US Open, becoming the last Indian standing in the year's final Major. By climbing into the global Top 20, Bhambri effectively took over the mantle of leadership in Indian men's tennis following Bopanna's retirement.
Sumit Nagal
- Date of Birth: August 16, 1997
- Place of Birth: Jhajjar, Haryana
- Sport: Tennis
- Major Achievements in 2025: Participated in the Australian Open main draw, reached the quarter-finals at the Copa Faulcombridge in Valencia and the Braga Open, and finished the year as India's highest-ranked singles player.
Sumit Nagal continued to lead the charge for Indian singles on the ATP Challenger and World Tour in 2025. He maintained his presence in Grand Slam main draws and secured consistent results on his preferred clay courts in Europe, reaching several quarter-finals. Nagal's resilience throughout the year ensured that India remained represented in the upper echelons of the global singles rankings during a period of transition for the national team.
Tennis (Female)
Ankita Raina
- Date of Birth: January 11, 1993
- Place of Birth: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Sport: Tennis
- Major Achievements in 2025: Reached the semi-finals at the WTA 125 Chennai Open in singles, advanced to the quarter-finals at the ITF W60 Traralgon in Australia, and held the India No. 1 ranking for a significant portion of the year.
Ankita Raina remained the most consistent force in Indian women's tennis throughout 2025. Her standout performance came at the WTA 125 Chennai Open, where she thrilled home fans by advancing to the semi-finals after a grueling victory over Romania's Irina Bara. On the international circuit, she continued to rack up wins in Australia and Europe, proving her longevity and status as the primary pillar of India's Billie Jean King Cup squad.
Vaishnavi Adkar
- Date of Birth: December 14, 2004
- Place of Birth: Pune, Maharashtra
- Sport: Tennis
- Major Achievements in 2025: Won a bronze medal in women's singles at the FISU World University Games, claimed the gold medal as national champion at the Fenesta Women's Nationals, and became the first Indian woman ever to win a tennis medal at the World University Games.
Vaishnavi Adkar scripted history in 2025 by winning a bronze medal at the FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, ending a 46-year medal drought for India in tennis at the event. Her victory over home favorite Sina Herrmann in the quarter-finals secured India's first medal in the sport since 1979. Domestically, she solidified her rising status by winning the prestigious Fenesta National title, marking her as the brightest young prospect in the country.
Sahaja Yamalapalli
- Date of Birth: October 29, 2000
- Place of Birth: Hyderabad, Telangana
- Sport: Tennis
- Major Achievements in 2025: Won her WTA main-draw debut match at the WTA Chennai Open, secured a doubles title at the ITF W35 Santo Domingo with Hiroko Kuwata, and reached and held the National No. 1 spot in women's singles.
2025 saw Sahaja Yamalapalli make significant strides on the professional tour, highlighted by her successful WTA debut in Chennai, where she earned her first main-draw victory. She also added to her trophy cabinet with an ITF doubles title in the Dominican Republic. By finishing the year as the AITA National No. 1, Sahaja confirmed her position as a major contender to lead the next generation of Indian women's singles players.
The TOISA 2025 awards promise to be a landmark event, celebrating the dedication and triumphs of India's sporting heroes while inspiring future generations to pursue excellence in athletics.
