The Times of India Sports Awards Returns for Eighth Edition
The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) is set to make a grand comeback for its eighth edition, celebrating the remarkable achievements and inspiring journeys of India's finest athletes. The prestigious TOISA 2025 ceremony will be held on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow, bringing together the country's top sporting icons and emerging stars for a night of recognition and celebration.
Expansive Awards and Evaluation Period
This edition of the awards will honor performances across more than 45 categories, covering the evaluation period from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Indian sport enjoyed a truly remarkable year, highlighted by standout performances at global and continental events, making this a highly anticipated celebration of athletic excellence.
Uttar Pradesh Dominates Track and Field Nominations
Track and field athletes from Uttar Pradesh have dominated the Athlete of the Year (Track and Field) nominations at TOISA 2025. Of the eight nominees across male and female categories, four are from the state, meaning UP athletes make up half of the nominations in both the men's and women's categories, showcasing the region's growing prowess in athletics.
Men's Category Nominees from Uttar Pradesh
In the men's category, long-distance runner Gulveer Singh had a stunning 2025, rewriting record books in the 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m events. He won two gold medals at the Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea, topping the 5000m and 10,000m races. Gulveer set national records in both events, with his 5000m mark of 12:59.77 also becoming the Asian record. The other UP athlete nominated is javelin thrower Sachin Yadav, who impressed at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Sachin finished a credible fourth with a personal best throw of 86.72m, ahead of Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who placed eighth. He also won silver at the Asian Championships in South Korea, finishing behind Pakistan's Paris Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem.
Women's Category Nominees from Uttar Pradesh
In the women's category, two of the four nominees are from UP—Parul Chaudhary and Rupal Chaudhary. Parul set the 3000m steeplechase national record twice on the global stage. She first broke it at the Diamond League in Doha, finishing sixth against a world-class field. Weeks later, she bettered her mark again at the Asian Championships in Gumi, where she won silver, and later added another silver in the 5000m event. Rupal also enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 at the continental level. She won three medals, including two gold, at the Asian Championships in South Korea. The 21-year-old claimed silver in the 400m and played a key role in India's gold-winning performances in the women's and mixed 4x400m relays.
Detailed Profiles of Uttar Pradesh Athletes
Gulveer Singh
- Date of Birth: June 1, 1998
- Place of Birth: Atrauli, Uttar Pradesh
- Sport: Athletics (3000m, 5000m, 10,000m)
- Major Achievements in 2025: Gold in 5000m and 10,000m at Gumi Asian Championships, national records in 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m events.
Gulveer Singh enjoyed a sensational 2025 season, rewriting national records across multiple long-distance events. He emerged as a dominant force on the continental stage, winning gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the Asian Athletics Championships to become the reigning Asian champion. Gulveer set a new national record in the 3000m at the Gyulai István Memorial, clocking an impressive 7:34.49. In the 5000m, he became the first Indian to break the 13-minute barrier, registering 12:59.77 at the Boston University Terrier DMR Challenge—a performance that also stands as the Asian 5000m short track record. He continued his record-breaking spree in the 10,000m, clocking 27:00.22 at The TEN to set another national benchmark.
Sachin Yadav
- Date of Birth: October 25, 1999
- Place of Birth: Khekada, Uttar Pradesh
- Sport: Athletics (Javelin Throw)
- Major Achievements in 2025: 4th at Tokyo World Championships with 86.27m PB, silver at Gumi Asian Championships.
In 2025, Sachin Yadav enjoyed a breakthrough season marked by personal bests and strong finishes on the international stage. He began the year by clinching gold at the National Games, producing a personal best and meet record throw of 84.39m. Yadav then impressed at the Asian Athletics Championships, where he secured a silver medal with another personal best of 85.16m. At the World Athletics Championships, Yadav qualified for the final and delivered a personal best throw of 86.27m, ultimately finishing fourth and narrowly missing out on a medal.
Parul Chaudhary
- Date of Birth: April 15, 1995
- Place of Birth: Iklauta, Uttar Pradesh
- Sport: Athletics (3000m steeplechase, 5000m)
- Major Achievements in 2025: 6th at Doha Diamond League with 9:13.39 NR, silver in 3000m steeplechase and 5000m at Gumi Asian Championships.
In 2025, Parul Chaudhary delivered a remarkable season, rewriting the national record in the women's 3000m steeplechase more than once on some of the sport's biggest stages. She first broke the national mark at the Diamond League Doha, clocking 9:13.39. Just weeks later, at the Asian Athletics Championships, Parul bettered her own record with a superb 9:12.46 effort to clinch the silver medal. She capped off an exceptional continental campaign by adding another silver in the 5000m event, making 2025 one of the finest seasons of her career.
Rupal Chaudhary
- Date of Birth: December 23, 2004
- Place of Birth: Shahpur Jainpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Sport: Athletics (400m)
- Major Achievements in 2025: Silver in 400m, gold in women's and mixed 4x400m relays at Gumi Asian Championships.
In 2025, young Rupal Chaudhary enjoyed a breakthrough year, headlined by a stellar showing at the Asian Athletics Championships. The 21-year-old returned home with three medals from the continental meet, including two golds—playing a pivotal role in India's triumphs in the women's 4x400m relay and the mixed 4x400m relay. Individually, she also impressed by clinching a silver medal in the 400m event. Rupal further showcased her growing stature on the global stage by representing India at the World Athletics Relays.
The TOISA 2025 ceremony promises to be a landmark event, celebrating India's sporting legends and the rising stars from states like Uttar Pradesh who are making the nation proud on the international stage.
