The eighth edition of The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 is set to take place on March 21, 2026, at The Centrum Hotel in Lucknow. The annual awards aim to honour the achievements of Indian athletes across more than 45 categories, recognising performances delivered between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
TOISA continues to spotlight excellence across a wide range of sports, with winners selected based on performance, consistency and overall impact during the evaluation period. The selection process is overseen by an independent jury comprising some of India’s most respected sporting figures.
This year’s jury panel includes Leander Paes, Mithali Raj, Abhinav Bindra, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal and PR Sreejesh, bringing together experience from multiple disciplines to ensure a fair and credible evaluation process.
Lucknow has been chosen as the host city, reflecting the growing importance of Uttar Pradesh in India’s sporting ecosystem, particularly in nurturing grassroots talent and contributing to national-level achievements.
The nominations for 2025 feature athletes from diverse sports, with badminton seeing strong representation through players such as Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
Puneet Gupt, chief operating officer at The Times of India, noted that TOISA was built on the belief that every athlete deserves recognition, including those who may not always be in the spotlight. He added that hosting the event in Lucknow reflects the evolving landscape of Indian sports.
Jury member Leander Paes highlighted the importance of recognising athletes beyond mainstream visibility, while Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur emphasised that such platforms validate the sacrifices athletes make in representing the country.
With its continued focus on inclusivity and recognition, TOISA 2025 aims to celebrate not just victories, but the dedication and journeys behind them.
