TOISA 2025: Sheetal Devi and Sumit Antil crowned ‘Para Sportspersons of the Year’

LUCKNOW: Javelin phenom Sumit Antil and archery sensation Sheetal Devi led the honours in the para-category as they were crowned ‘Para Sportsperson of the Year’ (Male and Female) at the prestigious Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 on Saturday. They received their honours from renowned actress Taapsee Pannu.The star-studded ceremony in Lucknow recognised athletes across more than 45 sporting categories, honouring exceptional performances delivered during the evaluation period from January 1 to December 31, 2025. This edition celebrated a year where Indian para-athletes didn't just compete but dominated on the global stage, shattering world records and securing historic podium finishes.For Sumit Antil, 2025 was a year of historic consolidation. The Sonipat-born javelin thrower underlined his supremacy by clinching his third consecutive world title at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. Antil’s gold-medal heave of 71.37m not only set a new Championship Record but extended an extraordinary unbeaten streak across five successive marquee global events, including the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics.He officially stands as the most successful Indian athlete in the history of the World Para Athletics Championships.In the female category, teenage archery prodigy Sheetal Devi continued her meteoric rise. Despite a significant technical overhaul in international rules for foot-archers, the 18-year-old from Jammu & Kashmir adapted seamlessly to finish the year as the World No. 1 in the Women’s Compound Open category. Her 2025 resume includes a Mixed Team Gold and Individual Silver at the Para World Archery Championships, alongside a record-breaking gold at the Khelo India Para Games.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 expertise ensured that the honours truly reflected global excellence, celebrating the grit and never-say-die spirit that defined the Indian sporting narrative in 2025.