BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year honours heroes
BBC Indian Sportswoman OF The Year Creates an Emotional and Proud Moment
India’s sporting journey has seen a strong rise in women athletes over the past decade, and the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Awards have played an important role in telling their stories to the world. The awards began in 2019 and were created to honour Indian sportswomen who have achieved something special and inspired others. Past winners include famous names like P V Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu, who later went on to win Olympic medals. This shows how the awards often recognise athletes at the peak of their careers.
India’s Sporting Icons Shine: Smriti Mandhana, Divya Deshmukh, Preethi Pal and Anjali Bhagwat honoured at the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Awards 2025
The winners of the sixth edition of the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Awards have been announced, spotlighting India’s trailblazing women athletes for their extraordinary achievements across cricket, shooting, chess, kabaddi and para-athletics.
Women’s sport in India has grown quickly in recent years. More girls are now playing sports at the school level, and leagues like the Women’s Premier League in cricket have given them new opportunities. Experts believe that media coverage and awards like these help increase confidence and bring more support from fans and sponsors.
Smriti Mandhana, Vice-Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, has been named the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) 2025 by a distinguished grand jury comprising Leander Paes, Deepa Malik, and Anju Bobby George.
Smriti Mandhana’s journey is one of hard work and talent. She made her debut for India in 2013 when she was just 16. She became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a one-day domestic match. Over the years, she has become one of the most stylish batters in the world. She has also played in leagues in Australia and England, which helped her gain more experience and confidence.
At 29, the left-handed batter is already among the game’s greats, with the second-highest number of centuries in women’s One Day Internationals and ranking third in total runs scored among current players worldwide.
Mandhana has also helped make women’s cricket more popular in India. When she played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Women’s Premier League, huge crowds came to watch her. Young girls now see her as a role model. Her calm nature and strong performances have made her one of the most respected players in the team.
Accepting the BBC ISWOTY award, Mandhana said: “Thank you, BBC, for giving me the award for Best Sportswoman of the Year. 2025 was a special year for women’s cricket, especially towards the end, we had a World Cup, and I’m happy I could contribute and help India win matches.”
India’s success in women’s cricket has come after many years of effort. Earlier, women players did not get the same facilities as men. But now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has improved pay and match fees. This has helped players focus fully on the sport.
The ceremony also honoured:
Divya Deshmukh: BBC Emerging Player of the Year, for her historic FIDE Women’s World Cup triumph at just 20. Divya Deshmukh’s win is very important for Indian chess. India has become one of the strongest chess nations in the world. Players like Viswanathan Anand inspired a new generation, and now young players like Divya are continuing that success. She started playing chess at the age of five and quickly showed great talent. Her World Cup victory shows that India’s future in chess is very bright.
Preethi Pal: BBC Para-Sportswoman of the Year, for winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in track and field.
Preethi Pal’s story is one of courage. Para-athletes often face many challenges, including a lack of facilities and support. Despite this, Indian para-athletes performed very well at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics. Their success has changed how people see disability sports in India. Preethi’s medals show that determination can overcome barriers.
Anjali Bhagwat: BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her pioneering career as India’s first woman shooter to reach an Olympic final and her trailblazing success on the world stage.
Anjali Bhagwat played a key role in making shooting popular in India. She was ranked world number one in air rifle shooting in 2002. Her success inspired future Olympic champions like Abhinav Bindra. Today, India is one of the top shooting nations, and much of the credit goes to pioneers like her.
Praising the athletes’ achievements and reaffirming the BBC’s commitment to spotlighting Indian women’s sport globally, the CEO of BBC News, Jonathan Munro, said: “Congratulations to this year’s winners who showcase the very best in sporting excellence. The BBC World Service is committed to bringing such stories of human endeavour and outstanding success to audiences across India and around the world.”
Global coverage helps Indian athletes gain recognition and support. When their stories are shared worldwide, they get more chances to train and compete. This also encourages governments and organisations to invest more in sport.
The ceremony also celebrated a wide spectrum of talent and impact, recognising Star Performers and Changemakers whose contributions continue to redefine the landscape of Indian sport.
BBC Star Performers of the Year 2025
Indian Women’s Cricket Team: for their historic World Cup victory.
India’s women’s cricket team has reached several World Cup finals in recent years. Their strong performances have helped increase television viewership and fan support. Many players are now well-known across the country.
Ekta Bhyan, Deepthi Jeevanji and Preethi Pal: for their trailblazing performances at the World Para Athletics Championship.
India’s para-athletes have been winning more medals than ever before. Government schemes like Target Olympic Podium have helped them with training and funding.
Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind: for their inspiring World Cup victory.
Blind cricket is growing in India, and the women’s team has shown great skill and courage. Their success proves that sport is for everyone.
Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team: for their smashing victory in the World Cup.
Kabaddi is one of India’s oldest sports. The women’s team has dominated at the international level and brought pride to the nation.
BBC Changemakers of the Year 2025
Indian Women’s Ice Hockey Team: for breaking barriers in a non-traditional sport
This team comes from Ladakh, where players practise in very cold weather. Their passion has helped them compete internationally.
Rajbir Kaur: Indian field hockey player and former captain of the women’s national team
Savita Punia: Indian field hockey player and current member of the national team
Savita Punia is known as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. She played a key role in India’s strong Olympic performance.
Paani Devi: recognised for her impactful contribution to grassroots sport
Grassroots coaches like Paani Devi help find young talent and train future champions.
The BBC ISWOTY is managed and produced by Collective Newsroom. Rupa Jha, Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder, Collective Newsroom, says: “Sport belongs to everyone, and its true power lies not only in victories but in the opportunities it creates. The ISWOTY 2026 is a celebration of every woman who has stepped forward to break barriers and claim her rightful place on the field.”
Such events help build confidence among young girls. When they see athletes being honoured, they believe they can also achieve big dreams.
The BBC World Service delivers news in English and over 40 languages across radio, TV, and digital platforms. Mainly through the BBC World Service, BBC News reaches 418 million people globally every week. In India, the BBC publishes content in English and various Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu. India is the BBC’s largest international market with a weekly audience of 70 million unique users across platforms.
The BBC has had a strong connection with India for many years. Its sports coverage has helped bring attention to athletes who may not always be in the spotlight.
In April 2024, most of the BBC’s India operations transitioned to the Collective Newsroom, a wholly Indian-owned company founded by former BBC employees. Collective Newsroom produces and publishes BBC content in six Indian languages and on the English YouTube. The BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year event is also managed and produced by Collective Newsroom on behalf of the BBC.
This new model helps ensure that Indian stories are told by Indian journalists, while still reaching a global audience. It also shows how women’s sport in India is becoming stronger, more respected, and more celebrated than ever before.
