Sportstar Aces Awards: Women cricketers steal the show

The eighth version of the Sportstar Aces Awards was held on the Taj Mahal Palace resort right here on Friday, celebrating the athletes, groups and defining moments that formed the previous 12 months in Indian sport.

If the night had a unifying thread, it was the journey of girls’s cricket in India and the generations that carried it ahead.

Ten former captains of the nationwide facet — Diana Edulji, Shubhangi Kulkarni, Sudha Shah, Nilima Jogalekar, Sandhya Agarwal, Pramila Bhat, Purnima Rau, Chanderkanta Kaul, Anju Jain and Jhulan Goswami — have been honoured.

Former Indian girls’s cricket staff captains with The Hindu Group’s chairperson Nirmala Lakshman and Casagrand’s Sumanth Krishna.
| Photograph Credit score:
EMMANUAL YOGINI

Their felicitation got here at a second when the ladies’s recreation in India has reached unprecedented heights.

The nationwide staff captured its maiden ODI World Cup title final November, whereas India quickly added one other landmark by successful the inaugural Blind Girls’s T20 World Cup.

Tribute to the pioneers

Reflecting on the journey of girls’s sport in India, Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson of The Hindu Group, paid tribute to the pioneers who laid the inspiration for the current era.

“Lengthy earlier than the highlight arrived, pioneers like P.T. Usha, Karnam Malleswari, Diana Edulji and Shantha Rangaswamy carried the goals of Indian girls’s sport on their shoulders,” she mentioned. “They competed for India in an period with restricted infrastructure, little recognition and virtually no monetary assist. But they persevered, pushed purely by ardour and satisfaction.”

She added that their braveness created the pathway for the progress seen right this moment, noting that Sportstar too has sought to honour that spirit by way of its work.

“For 48 years, Sportstar has carried ahead that legacy on this planet of sport, celebrating not simply victories however the spirit, sacrifice and perseverance that outline nice athletes.”

Union of previous & current

Sportstar editor Ayon Sengupta mentioned the awards night was as a lot about remembering those that constructed the foundations of Indian sport because it was about celebrating its current champions.

“At Sportstar, we have now been lucky to chronicle the journey of Indian sport and of Indian girls in sport since 1978,” he mentioned. “Many of those pioneers have appeared in our pages, on our covers and within the iconic centre spreads that generations of sports activities followers have grown up with.”

A proud Nari Contractor receives  the Lifetime Achievement honour from MD of Amul, Jayen Mehta, and Sunil Gavaskar.
| Photograph Credit score:
VIJAY SONEJI

Two stalwarts of Indian sport have been recognised with Lifetime Achievement honours in the course of the night.

Former India Check captain Nari Contractor was celebrated for a profession outlined by talent, management and memorable resilience, whereas hurdler M.D. Valsamma was honoured for her lasting contribution to Indian athletics.

Contractor’s second on stage proved notably emotional. The award was introduced by Sunil Gavaskar, who spoke movingly about how Contractor had impressed him early in his profession.

As Gavaskar recalled these recollections, his voice briefly faltered, drawing a heat response from the viewers. Contractor acquired a standing ovation.

Australian nice Glenn McGrath was honoured with the Worldwide Icon Award, introduced by Sportstar Aces Awards jury chair Gavaskar, in recognition of a profession that helped outline an period of quick bowling.

Capturing prodigy Suruchi Singh loved a memorable night, finishing a double. She was named Sportswoman of the Yr (Olympic Sports activities), sharing the honour with Olympic weightlifting medallist Mirabai Chanu, and in addition claimed the Younger Achiever of the Yr (Lady) award.

Reward for Deepti

Deepti Sharma was named Sportswoman of the Yr in Staff Sports activities, recognising her affect in India’s World Cup triumph.

Among the many night’s most celebrated figures have been boxing legend Mary Kom and Olympic wrestling medallist Sakshi Malik, who acquired the Ace of Aces award for his or her enduring affect on Indian sport.

The Award of Excellence recognised three athletes: Lady Grandmaster Tania Sachdev, desk tennis star Manika Batra and former Indian girls’s hockey captain Rani Rampal, every of whom has performed a significant function in elevating the worldwide profile of Indian sport. In different honours, lengthy jumper Murali Sreeshankar received the Comeback of the Yr award, whereas GMR Sports activities acquired the award for Greatest Company for the Promotion of Sport.

IndianOil Company Ltd. was recognised because the Greatest PSU for the Promotion of Sport, the Worldwide Institute of Sports activities & Administration was named Greatest Academic Establishment for the Promotion of Sport, and Undertaking Nanhi Kali acquired the Sports activities for Social Good award whereas Bihar received the Greatest State for Promotion of Sport.

Revealed – March 14, 2026 12:12 am IST