New Delhi, Feb 2 (.) The BBC on Monday announced the nominees for the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year (ISWOTY) Awards, recognising the outstanding performances of India’s leading women athletes in 2025.
Now in its sixth edition, the BBC ISWOTY Awards celebrate sportswomen who have excelled at the highest level, broken barriers and contributed significantly to India’s growing presence on the global sporting stage.
The five nominees for this year’s award are Divya Deshmukh (chess), Harmanpreet Kaur (cricket), Smriti Mandhana (cricket), Suruchi Singh (shooting) and Jyothi Yarraji (athletics).
The nominees were shortlisted by an eminent jury comprising sports editors, writers, and specialists, following an assessment of performances over the past year.
The final winner will be selected by a distinguished grand jury featuring Olympic medallist and former tennis star Leander Paes, former world championship medallist in long jump Anju Bobby George, and India’s first Paralympic medallist Deepa Mallik.
Since its inception in 2020, the BBC ISWOTY Awards have followed a structured process involving expert jury evaluation and public participation, recognising five top sportswomen annually.
Commenting on the announcement, Fiona Crack, Interim Global Director, BBC News, said the award highlights a year of sporting excellence for women across India and reflects the BBC World Service’s commitment to showcasing their achievements to global audiences.
Rupa Jha, Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of Collective Newsroom, which manages and produces the awards, said the 2026 edition carries the editorial theme “Every Body Can Play”, underscoring the idea that sport should be inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of age, body norms or disability.
The BBC ISWOTY Awards aim to celebrate not only sporting success but also the broader impact of women athletes in inspiring participation, inclusion and opportunity across Indian sport.
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