The winners of the sixth edition of the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Awards have been announced, spotlighting India’s trailblazing women athletes for their extraordinary achievements across cricket, shooting, chess, kabbadi and para-athletics.
Smriti Mandhana, Vice-Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team has been named the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) 2025 by a distinguished grand jury comprising Leander Paes, Deepa Malik, and Anju Bobby George.
At 29, the left-handed batter is already among the game’s greats, with the second-highest number of centuries in women’s One Day Internationals and ranking third in total runs scored among current players worldwide.
Accepting the BBC ISWOTY award Mandhana said: “Thank you BBC for giving me the award for Best Sportswoman of the Year, 2025 was a special year for women’s cricket, especially towards the end we had a World Cup and I’m happy I could contribute and help India win matches.”
The ceremony also honoured:
• Divya Deshmukh: BBC Emerging Player of the Year, for her historic FIDE Women’s World Cup triumph at just 20.
• Preethi Pal: BBC Para-Sportswoman of the Year, for winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in track and field.
• Anjali Bhagwat: BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her pioneering career as India’s first woman shooter to reach an Olympic final and her trailblazing success on the world stage.
Praising the athletes’ achievements and reaffirming the BBC’s commitment to spotlighting Indian women’s sport globally, CEO of BBC News, Jonathan Munro said: “Congratulations to this year’s winners who showcase the very best in sporting excellence. The BBC World Service is committed to bringing such stories of human endeavour and outstanding success to audiences across India and around the world.”
Additionally, the ceremony also celebrated a wide spectrum of talent and impact, recognising Star Performers and Changemakers whose contributions continue to redefine the landscape of Indian sport.
BBC Star Performers of the Year 2025
• Indian Women’s Cricket Team: for their historic World Cup victory.
• Ekta Bhyan, Deepthi Jeevanji and Preethi Pal: for their trailblazing performances at the World Para Athletics Championship.
• Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind: for their inspiring World Cup victory.
• Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team: for their smashing victory in World Cup.
BBC Changemakers of the Year 2025
• Indian Women’s Ice Hockey Team: for breaking barriers in a non-traditional sport
• Rajbir Kaur: Indian field hockey player and former captain of the women’s national team
• Savita Punia: Indian field hockey player and current member of the national team
• Paani Devi: recognised for her impactful contribution to grassroots sport
The BBC ISWOTY is managed and produced by Collective Newsroom. Rupa Jha, Editor-inChief and Co-founder, Collective Newsroom says: “Sport belongs to everyone, and its true power lies not only in victories but in the opportunities it creates. The ISWOTY 2026 is a celebration of every woman who has stepped forward to break barriers and claim her rightful place on the field.”
