Kuldeep Yadav, Deepti Sharma among UP athletes to receive special recognition at TOISA 2025

LUCKNOW: Athletes from Uttar Pradesh were recognised with a Special Honour as they were felicitated for their contributions across disciplines at the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 on Saturday.The ceremony in Lucknow recognised athletes across more than 45 sporting categories, honouring performances delivered during the evaluation period from January 1 to December 31, 2025.This segment highlighted the role of Uttar Pradesh in contributing athletes to Indian sport across formats, including cricket, hockey, para-sports and athletics.Among those honoured were cricketers Kuldeep Yadav and Deepti Sharma, both of whom played key roles for India across formats during the year.In hockey, Lalit Upadhyay and Rajkumar Pal were recognised for their contributions.Para-sports representation included Suhas Yathiraj in badminton and Praveen Kumar in para-athletics, both of whom continued to deliver results in global competitions.Somjeet Singh, captain of the Indian wheelchair cricket team, was also honoured, along with sprinter Rupal Chaudhary, who competed in track events during the year.The winners were selected by an illustrious jury comprising legendary athletes whose achievements have shaped Indian sport.Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Leander Paes, and Devendra Jhajharia formed the panel for this edition.Their collective experience ensured that the honours reflected performances across levels, recognising contributions that shaped India’s sporting year.