UP CM Yogi Adityanath at TOISA 2025 in Lucknow. LUCKNOW: Third time, they say, is the charm. The Tech Word News Sports Awards (TOISA) returned to Lucknow for the third time in a row and delivered an evening that seamlessly blended sporting excellence with high-octane glamour, rolling out the red carpet for Indian sporting royalty.From Olympians and World Champions to Para-athletes and rising stars, the ceremony brought together the entire spectrum under one roof. Adding charm and energy to the evening were hosts Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi, whose effortless stage presence and sharp banter kept proceedings lively throughout.The venue oozed style as the biggest names in sport arrived dressed for the occasion. Sharp suits, elegant saris and bold silhouettes dominated the red carpet, offering a rare glimpse of athletes outside the competition arena and into the spotlight of national recognition. Camera flashes followed the legends and the first winners, underscoring the scale and level of the action.
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Village playgrounds to mega stadiums: Yogi Adityanath outlines UP sports visionOne of the most engaging segments of the evening came when Neha Dhupia invited members of the Indian women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, to center stage and briefly changed the tone from formal recognition to candid conversation and humor.This was followed by a lively cricket-themed interaction that elicited both laughter and applause. The players – Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet – used familiar on-field terms like LBW, umpire, bouncer and hit wicket to describe each other off the field.From social media habits to tour shopping confessions, the exchange offered a rare glimpse into the team’s camaraderie off the pitch. The segment culminated in a spontaneous dance and earned one of the loudest ovations of the night.The evening also struck a thoughtful note when Neha Dhupia asked Taapsee Pannu, TOISA Ambassador of the Year, about portraying athletes on screen – what was more challenging: playing the part or training for it?Taapsee was unequivocal. Getting even remotely close to the life of an athlete, she said, was the hardest challenge. Calling herself an “aspiring athlete”, she shared that many of her films have been driven by her desire to learn new sports, adding that athletes are the real heroes of the country – a sentiment that has always drawn her to such roles.When asked about the sports biopic she’d still like to do, the exchange turned playful. Without hesitation, she named Sania Mirza, admitting that her lack of familiarity with tennis would make the challenge even more exciting. She described Mirza’s journey as deeply inspiring.As the night progressed, chatter and laughter formed a continuous rhythm. The most emotional moment of the evening came when para chess winner Vaibhav Gautam took the stage. As he was wheeled in to receive his honor, the entire hall erupted in a spontaneous standing ovation.The award was presented by a distinguished group that included Madan Lal, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup winning team, along with former hockey international MM Somaya and 2016 Paralympic silver medalist Deepa Malik.The honors included 45 categories, with a strong emphasis on para-sports.For Archana Singh, 23, attending her first awards show was “surreal and unforgettable”. Ritika Sharma (21), a student of Lucknow University, felt the event struck a perfect balance between sports and entertainment.It wasn’t just about who won. It was about who showed up, how the night felt and how sport, style and character came together to create a mood that lingered long after the lights went down.
