TOISA 2025 Nominees: Celebrating India’s kabaddi champions

The Times of India Sports Awards is set to return with its eighth edition, celebrating the journeys and achievements of India’s finest athletes across a wide range of sports. The highly anticipated TOISA 2025 ceremony will take place on March 21, 2026 in Lucknow.

The event will bring together some of the country’s biggest sporting icons along with rising talents who made India proud over the past year.This edition will recognise athletes across more than 45 sporting categories, honouring performances recorded between January 1 and December 31, 2025. It has been a remarkable year for Indian sport, with memorable victories and inspiring stories emerging from global championships and major international tournaments.

The awards aim to highlight both established champions and young athletes who are shaping the future of Indian sport.The winners will be decided by an esteemed jury that includes sporting legends such as Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal and Leander Paes. Here are the kabaddi players nominated for TOISA 2025:Sanju Devi, one of the brightest young stars in Indian women’s kabaddi. Born on December 19, 2002 in Kerakachar village in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh, Sanju enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025.

She was named the Most Valuable Player at the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, a recognition that highlighted her influence on the global stage. Her performance in the final was crucial, as she produced important raid points at decisive moments.

Earlier in the year, she also played a key role in helping India win the gold medal at the Asian Championship in Iran. Her calm approach and ability to deliver under pressure have made her a dependable match winner for the national team.Pawan Sehrawat, widely regarded as one of the leading kabaddi raiders in the country. Born on July 9, 1996 in New Delhi, Sehrawat enjoyed a memorable year as captain of the Indian men’s team. In 2025 he led India to the Kabaddi World Cup title in Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom. The final against England turned into a thrilling contest, with India eventually securing a narrow 44 to 41 victory. His leadership and attacking approach played a crucial role throughout the tournament.

Off the mat, Sehrawat also remained one of the most valuable players in the professional league circuit. At the Pro Kabaddi League auction he rejoined the Tamil Thalaivas for ₹59.5 lakh, reflecting his continued impact and popularity in the sport.Ritu Negiis another inspiring figure among the nominees. Born on May 30, 1992 in Sharog village in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Negi has built a distinguished career as a leader in Indian women’s kabaddi.

In 2025 she captained the national team to the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup title in Dhaka. India defeated Chinese Taipei 35 to 28 in the final to lift the trophy. Under Negi’s captaincy, the team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament despite dealing with injury concerns within the squad.

Her leadership, composure and tactical awareness were widely credited for guiding India to a dominant campaign. Arjun Deshwal, one of the most consistent raiders in the Indian kabaddi circuit.

Born on July 7, 1999 in Basera village in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Deshwal enjoyed an exceptional season in 2025. He was part of the Indian team that won the Kabaddi World Cup in Wolverhampton and played an important role in the title winning campaign. Earlier in the year he led the Uttar Pradesh team to gold at the 71st Senior Men’s National Kabaddi Championship and was named the Best Raider of the tournament.

His strong run continued in Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League, where he scored 209 raid points and finished among the top four raiders. These performances further strengthened his reputation as one of the elite raiders in the league.As the eighth edition of TOISA approaches, the stories of athletes like Sanju Devi, Pawan Sehrawat, Ritu Negi and Arjun Deshwal highlight the passion and dedication that drive Indian sport forward.