Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur win Hockey India Player of the Year 2025 awards

Key facts

• The 8th annual Hockey India (HI) awards were held in New Delhi to recognise standout performances during the 2025 season.
• Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur were conferred with the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year in the men’s and women’s categories respectively, receiving ₹20 lakh each.
• Zafar Iqbal, a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-winning team, received the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award along with a prize of ₹25 lakh.
• Bichu Devi Kharibam won the Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year, and Sanjay received the Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year.
• Sumit was awarded the Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year, while Sukhjeet Singh received the Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year.
• Sakshi Rana and Prince Deep Singh were named the Upcoming Players of the Year (Under 21) in the women's and men's categories respectively, each receiving ₹10 lakh.
• Forward Gurjant Singh, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, announced his retirement from international hockey during the ceremony.
• The Indian men's team was felicitated for their Asia Cup victory in Rajgir, with players receiving ₹3 lakh each and coaching staff receiving ₹1.5 lakh each.
• The junior men's team was honoured for winning bronze at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Men’s Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu, with players receiving ₹5 lakh each.