New Delhi: India’s star batsman Smriti Mandhana, who played a key role in India’s historic win in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, was selected for the BBC ‘Indian Sportswoman of the Year’ award for 2025 at a grand ceremony here on Monday.
Young chess talent Divya Deshmukh received the Emerging Player of the Year award for winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup at the age of 20. Para athlete Preeti Pal was named Female Para Athlete of the Year for winning two bronze medals in track and field at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Former shooter Anjali Bhagwat was honored with the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award. She has been the first female shooter from India to reach the Olympic final. Mandhana, who was with the Indian team on the Australia tour, said in a video message:
Thanks to BBC, who gave me the Best Sportswoman of the Year award. 2025 was a special year for women’s cricket, especially winning the World Cup at the end of the year. I am happy that I could contribute to India’s victory.
This 29-year-old left-handed batsman is second in the list of most centuries in women’s ODI cricket and is third in the world in terms of total runs among the current players.
Mandhana, a resident of Sangli city of Maharashtra, got inspiration for cricket from her father and brother, who have played at the district level.
Last year in September, she scored a century in 50 balls against Australia and created the record for the fastest century by any Indian (men and women) in the 50 over international format, which was previously held by Virat Kohli.
The award winners were selected by a jury consisting of Leander Paes, Dipa Malik and Anju Bobby George.
Congratulating the winners, BBC News Chief Executive Jonathan Munro said that these players exemplify the best of sporting excellence and the BBC World Service is committed to bringing such inspiring stories to audiences in India and around the world.
Players and those who brought about change through sports were also honored in other categories at the ceremony. Winners of BBC ‘Star Performer of the Year’ 2025 Awards:
- Indian women’s cricket team – to win the World Cup.
- Indian women’s visually impaired team – to win the World Cup.
- Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team – To win the World Cup.
- Simran Sharma, Ekta Bhayan, Deepti Jiwanji, Preeti Pal – For their excellent performance in the World Para Athletics Championships.
Winners of the BBC ‘Changemakers of the Year’ awards:
- Indian women’s ice hockey team: overcoming obstacles in a non-traditional sport.
- Rajbir Kaur: Indian hockey player and former captain of the Indian national women’s team.
- Savita Punia: Indian hockey player and current member of the national team.
- Pani Devi: For her impressive contribution at the grassroots level in the world of sports.