TOISA 2025: Chess sensation Divya Deshmukh named ‘Emerging Sportsperson of the Year’

LUCKNOW: Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh added another prestigious feather to her cap as she was conferred with the ‘Emerging Sportsperson of the Year’ award at the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 on Saturday.

The Nagpur-born chess prodigy headlined a night that celebrated the future icons of Indian sport during a glittering ceremony in Lucknow.The 2025 edition of TOISA recognised athletes across more than 45 sporting categories, honouring exceptional performances delivered during the evaluation period from January 1 to December 31, 2025. This period was a watershed moment for Indian chess, with Divya’s meteoric rise serving as a primary highlight of the nation’s sporting successes on the global stage.

For the 20-year-old Divya, 2025 was the year she transitioned from a promising talent to a global powerhouse. Her crowning achievement came at the Women’s Chess World Cup, where she outmanoeuvred a field of world-class contenders to clinch the title. This landmark victory was not just a tournament win; it served as the final stepping stone to the prestigious Grandmaster (GM) title. In doing so, Divya became India’s 88th Grandmaster and only the fourth Indian woman in history to achieve the feat.

Her tactical brilliance and composure under pressure throughout the season also ensured her qualification for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, firmly establishing her as a genuine World Championship contender.The winner for the respective award was meticulously selected by an illustrious jury comprising legendary athletes who have defined excellence in their respective fields. The panel included Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, hockey icon PR Sreejesh, cricketing legend Mithali Raj, table tennis stalwart Achanta Sharath Kamal, tennis great Leander Paes, and para-athletics pioneer Devendra Jhajharia.Their collective experience and deep understanding of high-pressure competition ensure that the TOISA honours remain the gold standard for recognising athletic brilliance in India. As Divya Deshmukh looks toward the Candidates in 2026, this award cements her status as the vanguard of India's new generation of sporting superstars.