Abhinav Bindra, Mithali Raj, PR Sreejesh The eighth edition of The Tech Word News Sports Awards will be held in Lucknow on March 21, 2026 and will bring together some of India’s biggest sporting icons to celebrate excellence across disciplines. The prestigious awards recognize the outstanding achievements, perseverance and determination of Indian sportspersons who have made the nation proud in the 2025 sports season.In this edition, the awards will recognize achievements in 49 categories – 36 sports and 13 para-sports – with more than 190 nominations covering individual and team performances. Winners will be selected by a renowned jury consisting of legendary athletes whose achievements have shaped Indian sports. Their experience, credibility and deep understanding of the competition ensure that the awards truly reflect excellence on the global stage.Also Read: TOISA set to celebrate Indian sports heroes; Lucknow will host the 8th edition
Here is the jury for TOISA 2025:
Abhinav Bindra – ShootingAbhinav Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, remains one of the country’s most celebrated athletes. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he made history by winning gold in the 10-meter air rifle. Earlier, he became the first Indian shooter to win the world title at the ISSF World Shooting Championship in 2006. A multiple Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medalist, Bindra has received the Padma Bhushan, Major Dhyana Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award. PR Sreejesh — HockeyPR Sreejesh, one of the best goalkeepers in modern hockey, has played a key role in India’s revival on the global stage. He was instrumental in winning Olympic bronze medals for India in 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Olympics. An Asian Games gold medalist and Commonwealth Games silver medalist, Sreejesh has also been named the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year three times. His achievements have been recognized with Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award.Mithali Raj – CricketA pioneer in women’s cricket, Mithali Raj is the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket with 10,868 runs. She has amassed 7,805 runs in ODIs, the most by any woman, and has led India to two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup finals in 2005 and 2017. Mithali also became the first Indian woman to reach 2,000 runs in T20Is and holds the record for most ODI appearances. Her remarkable 20-year career earned her the Padma Shri, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and recognition as Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in 2017.Devendra Jhajharia — Para AthleticsDevendra Jhajharia is among India’s greatest para-athletes and is the only Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals in javelin at the Athens 2004 Paralympics and Rio 2016 Paralympics. He also won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, completing a rare hat-trick of medals. Jhajharia broke the world record twice in the F46 category and became the first para-athlete to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. His honors also include Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and Arjuna Award.Sharath Kamal — Table tennisSharath Kamal is widely regarded as India’s best table tennis player. He became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games gold in 2006 and has since amassed a record 13 Commonwealth Games medals. A ten-time national champion, he also won medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships and became the first Indian to win an ITTF Pro Tour title. Sharath represented India at five Olympic Games from Athens 2004 to Paris 2024 and served as co-chairman of the ITTF Athletes’ Commission. His achievements have earned him the Padma Shri, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and the Arjuna Award.Leander Paes — TennisLeander Paes is one of India’s most decorated tennis players, with 18 Grand Slam titles in men’s and mixed doubles. He won a historic bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, ending India’s 44-year wait for an individual Olympic medal. Paes also holds the record for most doubles wins in Davis Cup history and was part of the legendary Indian Express pair with Mahesh Bhupathi. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Paes remains a prominent figure in Indian sports.
