Hockey India Annual Awards 2025: Hardik Singh, Navneet Kaur Honoured
Why in the news
Hockey India held its Annual Awards for 2025 in New Delhi on 27 March 2026. Midfielder Hardik Singh and forward Navneet Kaur were named Players of the Year, and Zafar Iqbal was honoured for lifetime achievement.
Key facts
- Player of the Year (men): Hardik Singh, Rs 20 lakh.
- Player of the Year (women): Navneet Kaur, Rs 20 lakh.
- Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award: Zafar Iqbal, Rs 25 lakh, recognising his part in India’s 1980 Moscow Olympics gold.
- Upcoming Players: Prince Deep Singh (men) and Sakshi Rana (women), Rs 10 lakh each.
- Best Member Unit: Hockey Unit of Jharkhand, Rs 2.5 lakh.
| Award | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper of the Year | Bichu Devi Kharibam | Rs 5 lakh |
| Defender of the Year | Sanjay | Rs 5 lakh |
| Midfielder of the Year | Sumit | Rs 5 lakh |
| Forward of the Year | Sukhjeet Singh | Rs 5 lakh |
Other recognitions
Manpreet Singh was honoured for 400 international caps (Rs 4 lakh) and Harmanpreet Singh for 250 caps (Rs 2.5 lakh). The men’s team received Rs 1.38 crore and the women’s team Rs 69 lakh. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State Raksha Khadse attended.
Exam angle
- Match each winner with the category and prize amount.
- The lifetime award is named after Major Dhyan Chand.
- Awards are for the year 2025 but were presented in March 2026.