India men's hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh has emerged as the lone nominee for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna this year, the highest sporting honour in the country.
The announcement was made after the awards selection committee finalised its recommendations on Wednesday, also naming 24 athletes for the Arjuna Award across a wide range of disciplines.
At 27, Hardik has been one of the most influential figures in India's midfield over the past few years. He played a vital role in India's bronze-medal-winning campaigns at the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games and continued his strong run in 2025 by helping the team clinch the Asia Cup title. His consistency at the highest level and leadership qualities as vice-captain have
now placed him in line for Indian sport's most coveted individual recognition.
Among the Arjuna Award selections, teenage chess sensation Divya Deshmukh stands out. The 19-year-old created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the Chess World Cup, a milestone achievement that underlined India's growing dominance in the sport. Fellow grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi has also been recommended, further strengthening chess's presence in this year's honours list.
Athletics features prominently, with decathlete Tejaswin Shankar earning a nomination following his historic silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games and another podium finish at the Asian Championships. He is joined by athletes Priyanka and Mohammed Afsal, reflecting a strong year for Indian track and field.
A notable first this year is the inclusion of Yogasan athlete Aarti Pal for the Arjuna Award. Five years after Yogasan received formal recognition from the Sports Ministry, Aarti's recommendation marks a landmark moment for the discipline. She is the reigning national and Asian champion, and Yogasan is set to feature as a demonstration sport at the 2026 Asian Games.
Other prominent names include shooter Mehuli Ghosh, gymnast Pranati Nayak, and women's badminton duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. Gayatri, the daughter of national coach and former All England champion Pullela Gopichand, has been rewarded for consistent performances on the international circuit.
Interestingly, no cricketer features in this year's list. The last player from the sport to receive the Arjuna Award was Mohammed Shami in 2023.
The Khel Ratna carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, while Arjuna Award recipients receive Rs 15 lakh each. Last year, the Khel Ratna was jointly awarded to D Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh, Praveen Kumar, and Manu Bhaker, highlighting the depth of India's sporting excellence.
Arjuna Awards
Tejaswin Shankar (Athletics), Priyanka (Athletics), Narender (Boxing), Vidit Gujrathi (Chess), Divya Deshmukh (Chess), Dhanush Srikanth (Deaf Shooting), Pranati Nayak (Gymnastics), Rajkumar Pal (Hockey), Surjeet (Kabaddi), Nirmala Bhati (Kho Kho), Rudransh Khandelwal (Para-Shooting), Ekta Bhyan (Para-athletics), Padmanabh Singh (Polo), Arvind Singh (Rowing), Akhil Sheoran (Shooting), Mehuli Ghosh (Shooting), Sutirtha Mukherjee (Table Tennis), Sonam Malik (Wrestling), Aarti (Yoga), Treesa Jolly (Badminton), Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton), Lalremsiami (Hockey), Mohammed Afsal (Athletics), Pooja (Kabaddi).
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