Hockey India 8th Annual Awards 2025

• 01 Apr 2026

Why in News? 

The 8th Annual Awards ceremony of Hockey India was held in New Delhi to honour outstanding performers and contributors to Indian hockey during the 2025 season. 

Key Points 

• About: The Hockey India Annual Awards, instituted in 2014, recognise outstanding performances by players, officials, and state units contributing to the growth of hockey in India.  
• Player of the Year Awards:  
  • Hardik Singh won the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Men). 
  • Navneet Kaur received the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Women). 
    • Each award carried a cash prize of ₹20 lakh. 
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Former Indian captain Zafar Iqbal was honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.  
  • He was part of India’s gold medal-winning team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.  
    • Includes a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.  
• Position-Wise Awards: 
  • Goalkeeper of the Year: Bichu Devi Kharibam – Hockey India Baljit Singh Award. 
  • Defender of the Year: Sanjay – Hockey India Pargat Singh Award. 
  • Midfielder of the Year: Sumit – Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award. 
  • Forward of the Year: Sukhjeet Singh – Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award. 
    • Each of these awards carried a ₹5 lakh prize. 
• Best Member Unit Award: Hockey Jharkhand received the award for its contribution to the development of hockey at the grassroots level. 
• Upcoming Player of the Year (Under-21): 
  • Men: Prince Deep Singh won the Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award. 
  • Women: Sakshi Rana received the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award. 
    • Both awards carried ₹10 lakh each.