Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson of The Hindu flanked by Jury Members (from left) Vishwanathan Anand, M M Somaya, Sunil Gavaskar, Anjali Bhagwat, Aparna Popat and Sportstar Editor Ayon Sengupta during the Sportstar Aces Award in Mumbai on March 13, 2026
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MOORTHY RV
If the evening had a defining thread, it was the story of women’s cricket in India and the generations that carried it forward. Ten former captains of the national side were honoured on stage, among them Jhulan Goswami, Diana Edulji, Neetu David and Shubhangi Kulkarni, alongside Sudha Shah, Nilima Joglekar, Sandhya Agarwal, Purnima Rau, Pramila Bhat and Chanderkanta Kaul.
Their felicitation came at a moment when the women’s game in India has reached unprecedented heights. The national team captured its maiden ODI World Cup title last November, while India soon added another landmark by winning the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup.
Reflecting on the journey of women’s sport in India, Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson of The Hindu Group, paid tribute to the pioneers who laid the foundation for the present generation.
“Long before the spotlight arrived, pioneers like P T Usha, Karnam Malleswari, Diana Edulji and Shanta Rangaswamy carried the dreams of Indian women’s sport on their shoulders,” she said.
Passion and pride
“They competed for India in an era with limited infrastructure, little recognition and almost no financial support. Yet they persevered – driven purely by passion and pride.”
She added that their courage created the pathway for the progress visible today, noting that Sportstar too has sought to honour that spirit through its work.
“For 48 years, Sportstar has carried forward that legacy in the world of sport – celebrating not just victories, but the spirit, sacrifice and perseverance that define great athletes.”
Two stalwarts of Indian sport were recognised with Lifetime Achievement honours during the evening. Former India Test captain Nari Contractor was celebrated for a career marked by skill, leadership and resilience, while pioneering hurdler M D Valsamma was honoured for her lasting contribution to Indian athletics.
Double triumph
Shooting prodigy Suruchi Singh enjoyed a memorable night, completing a double triumph. She was named Sportswoman of the Year (Olympic Sports), sharing the honour with Olympic weightlifting medallist Mirabai Chanu, and also claimed the Young Achiever of the Year (Girl) award.
Boxing legend Mary Kom and Olympic wrestling medallist Sakshi Malik received the Ace of Aces Award, recognising their enduring influence on Indian sport.
Among the other honours, GMR Sports was named Best Corporate for the Promotion of Sport, IndianOil Corporation Ltd won the Best PSU for the Promotion of Sport award, the International Institute of Sports & Management was recognised as Best Educational Institution for the Promotion of Sport, and Project Nanhi Kali received the Sports for Social Good award.
Published on March 13, 2026