Indian women's hockey international Lalremsiami became the first athlete from Mizoram to be selected for the prestigious Arjuna Award, unveiled by the sports ministry on Tuesday.
India's highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, will have no recipient for 2025 as the government makes no recommendations, while 17 athletes are named for Arjuna Awards.
Athletes express frustration over the delayed announcement of the National Sports Awards 2025-26, attributed by the sports ministry to a "re-evaluation of names" for the Arjuna Awards. The prolonged wait is impacting athlete morale, with traditional award dates no longer fixed.
Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 5.5 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.
Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 5.5 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.
Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 5.5 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.
Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 1 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The Arjuna Awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.
