The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) is back for its eighth edition. It will honor the inspiring stories and achievements of India’s top athletes from many different sports. The TOISA 2025 ceremony will take place on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow. The event will bring together well-known sports stars and new talents who made India proud in the past year.This edition, TOISA will recognize athletes in more than 45 sports categories. The awards will cover performances from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Indian sports had a fantastic year with many memorable wins and record-breaking moments at world championships and major international tournaments.In 2025, India’s badminton players performed impressively, and 10 among them have been nominated, including Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty. They competed across men’s and women’s singles and doubles, highlighting India’s rising talent in the sport.The jury for TOISA 2025 includes some of India’s biggest sports names: Leander Paes (tennis), Mithali Raj (cricket), Abhinav Bindra (shooting), Devendra Jhajharia (para athletics), Sharath Kamal (table tennis), and PR Sreejesh (hockey). These experienced athletes will help choose the winners for this year’s awards.Here are the badminton players nominated for TOISA 2025 (Men and Women):BADMINTON – MALELakshya SenDate of Birth: August 16, 2001Place of Birth: Almora, UttarakhandSport: Badminton, Men’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:Australian Open: GoldHong Kong Open Super 500: SilverIn 2025, Lakshya Sen showed that he remains one of India’s top badminton players. He won the Australian Open Super 500 men’s singles title in Sydney, becoming only the second Indian male player to win the tournament. The victory ended his wait for a title and was his first World Tour win of the season. He also finished runner-up at the Hong Kong Open and reached several semifinals, showing steady form throughout the year. His semifinal run at the Paris Olympics in 2024 proved that he can compete with the best players in the world.Ayush ShettyDate of birth: May 3, 2005Place of birth: Karkala, Udupi (Karnataka)Sport: Badminton Men’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:US Open Super 300: GoldAyush Shetty is one of India’s rising badminton players. He won the silver medal at the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships, showing his talent at the junior level. After that, he moved to senior tournaments and performed very well in 2025, winning his first BWF World Tour title and defeating several top players. His steady improvement and strong performances show that he has a bright future and can become one of India’s top men’s singles players.Chirag ShettyDate of birth: July 4, 1997Place of birth: Malad, MumbaiSport: Badminton, Men’s DoublesMajor achievements in 2025:BWF World Championships: BronzeHong Kong Open: SilverChina Masters: SilverChirag Shetty is an Indian badminton player who specialises in men’s doubles. His regular partner is Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and together they are among the top men’s doubles pairs in the world. Chirag is known for his speed, agility, and strong teamwork. The duo has won several international titles and medals at major tournaments like the World Championships and Asian Games, making them one of India’s most successful and celebrated men’s doubles pair.Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Date of birth: August 13, 2000Place of birth: Amalapuram, Andhra PradeshSport: Badminton, Men’s DoublesSatwiksairaj Rankireddy is an Indian badminton player who plays men’s doubles with his partner Chirag Shetty. Together, they are one of the top men’s doubles pairs in the world. Satwik is known for his powerful smashes, speed, and strong teamwork. The pair has won multiple international titles and medals at major events like the World Championships and Asian Games, making Satwik a key figure in Indian badminton and a major contributor to India’s success in men’s doubles.Kiran GeorgeDate of birth: February 11, 2000Place of birth: Kochi, KeralaSport: Badminton Men’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:Odisha Masters Super 100: GoldKiran George is an Indian badminton player who has shown strong performances in international tournaments. He won the Odisha Masters title twice, in 2022 and again in 2025, which shows his consistency and improvement. Kiran has represented India in many BWF events and continues to work hard to improve his ranking. With his attacking style and confidence on court, he is seen as one of India’s promising men’s singles players for the future.BADMINTON – FEMALETanvi SharmaDate of Birth: December 22, 2008Place of Birth: Hoshiarpur, PunjabSport: Badminton, Women’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:US Open Super 300: SilverWorld Junior Championship: SilverAsia Junior Championship: BronzeTanvi Sharma is a rising Indian badminton player who made 2025 a remarkable year. She won the silver medal at the BWF World Junior Championships, becoming the first Indian girl in 17 years to achieve this. She also reached the final of the US Open Super 300 and earned a bronze at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships. Tanvi is known for her speed, skill, and determination on the court. Her strong performances show that she has a bright future and could become one of India’s top women’s singles players.Unnati HoodaDate of Birth: September 20, 2007Place of Birth: Rohtak, HaryanaSport: Badminton, Women’s SinglesMajor Achievements in 2025:Odisha Master Super 100: GoldUnnati Hooda is a rising Indian badminton player who had a great year in 2025. She won the Odisha Masters, her second title at this event, and reached the quarterfinals of the China Open, where she defeated Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, a major highlight of her year. She also made it to the semifinals of the Taipei Open. Alongside her sports achievements, she scored an impressive 93% in her CBSE Class 12 exams. Known for her speed, skill, and determination, Unnati is one of India’s most promising young women’s singles players.Tressa JollyDate of Birth: May 27, 2003Place of Birth: Cherupuzha, KeralaSport: Badminton, Women’s DoublesMajor Achievements in 2025:Syed Modi International Super 300: GoldTurkey International Challenge: GoldTreesa Jolly is an Indian badminton player who plays women’s doubles with her partner Gayatri Gopichand. In 2025, she won the Syed Modi International Super 300 title and reached several other finals in international tournaments. Treesa also won the mixed doubles title at the Türkiye International Challenge with Hariharan Amsakarunan. She and Gayatri were part of the Indian team that won the historic gold at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. They reached a career-best world ranking of No. 9, making them one of India’s top women’s doubles pairs. Treesa is known for her speed, teamwork, and skill on court.Gayatri GopichandDate of Birth: March 4, 2003Place of Birth: Hyderabad, TelanganaSport: Badminton, Women’s DoublesMajor Achievements in 2025:Syed Modi International Super 300: GoldGayatri Gopichand is an Indian badminton player who partners with Treesa Jolly in women’s doubles. In 2025, she won the Syed Modi International Super 300 and reached several deep rounds in other BWF tournaments. Gayatri and Treesa were also part of the Indian squad that won the historic gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. They reached a career-high world ranking of No. 9, becoming one of India’s top doubles pairs. Gayatri is known for her agility, smart play, and teamwork, making her a key figure in Indian badminton.
