Times of India Sports Awards 2026 Set to Celebrate India's Sporting Excellence
The eighth edition of the prestigious Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) is scheduled to take place on March 21, 2026, in the vibrant city of Lucknow. This grand event is dedicated to honoring the remarkable achievements and inspiring journeys of India's top athletes across a diverse range of sports disciplines.
Focus on 2025 Performances and Distinguished Jury
TOISA 2025 will specifically recognize athletic performances from the period of January 1 to December 31, 2025. The awards aim to highlight standout moments from global championships and international tournaments, ensuring that excellence on the world stage receives its due acclaim.
With more than 45 categories, the awards will acknowledge both established sporting icons and emerging talents who have brought immense pride to the nation. The selection process will be overseen by a distinguished jury comprising legendary athletes, including Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal, and Leander Paes. This panel guarantees credible and authoritative recognition of excellence in Indian sport.
Para Athletics Track & Field Nominees for TOISA 2025
The nominations for the Para Athlete (Track & Field) categories showcase some of India's most accomplished para athletes, whose performances in 2025 have been nothing short of extraordinary.
Male Para Athlete Nominees
Sumit Antil
- Date of Birth: June 7, 1998
- Place of Birth: Sonipat, Haryana, India
- Sport: Para Athlete (Track & Field)
- Major Achievements in 2025: Gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships, defending his world title with a championship record throw of 71.37 meters in the men's javelin throw F64 event held in New Delhi. His stellar performance was a pivotal contribution to India's record medal haul at the championships.
Shailesh Kumar
- Place of Birth: Jamui district, Bihar, India
- Sport: Para Athlete (Track & Field)
- Major Achievements in 2025: Gold medal in the men's high jump T63 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, setting both a championship and Asian record with a height of 1.91 meters. His victory marked India's first gold at the event and significantly boosted the nation's best medal tally in the championships.
Sandeep Kumar
- Date of Birth: September 30, 2001
- Sport: Men's 200 meters T35
- Major Achievements in 2025: Bronze medal in the men's 200 meters T44 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. This achievement represented his first international medal in para athletics and added to India's record medal haul at the championships.
Nishad Kumar
- Place of Birth: Badaun, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Sport: Men's High Jump T47
- Major Achievements in 2025: Gold medal in the men's high jump T47 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, equalling his personal best with a jump of 2.14 meters and establishing a new Asian record. His performance was instrumental in helping India secure one of six gold medals at the event.
Female Para Athlete Nominees
Simran Sharma
- Sport: Women's 100 meters & 200 meters T12
- Major Achievements in 2025: Gold medal in the women's 100 meters T12 event and silver medal in the women's 200 meters T12 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. Her sprinting prowess in the T12 category for visually impaired athletes significantly contributed to India's medal tally at the record-breaking global meet.
Preethi Pal
- Sport: Women's 100 meters & 200 meters T35
- Major Achievements in 2025: Silver medal in the women's 100 meters T35 event and bronze medal in the women's 200 meters T35 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. Her dual podium finishes in the sprint events underscored her consistency and development at the elite level of para-athletics.
Ekta Bhyan
- Sport: Women's Club Throw F51
- Major Achievements in 2025: Silver medal in the women's club throw F51 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. Her podium finish contributed to India's overall medal count and maintained her record of consistent international performances.
Deepthi Jeevanji
- Date of Birth: September 27, 2003
- Place of Birth: Kalleda, Warangal, Telangana, India
- Sport: Para Athlete (Track & Field)
- Major Achievements in 2025: Silver medal in the women's 400 meters T20 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. Her performance in the middle-distance event added to India's medal haul and continued her streak of strong results at global para-athletics competitions.
The Times of India Sports Awards 2026 promises to be a landmark event, celebrating the indomitable spirit and outstanding achievements of India's athletes, with a special focus on the para-athletes who have shone brightly on the international stage.
