Star midfielder Hardik Singh and striker Navneet Kaur were on Friday named Hockey India Players of the Year in the men’s and women’s categories respectively at a ceremony in the capital that honoured the sport’s top performers over the past year.

The duo received the prestigious Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of the Year 2025, each carrying a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh.

Former India captain Zafar Iqbal, a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning team, was conferred the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award along with a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh. He had also won silver medals at the Asian Games in 1978 and 1982 and a bronze at the 1982 Champions Trophy.

The Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year went to the women’s team custodian Bichu Devi Kharibam, while Sanjay bagged the Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year. Both awards carried a prize of Rs 5 lakh each.

Sanjay also secured the Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year, while Sukhjeet Singh was named Forward of the Year, with both receiving Rs 5 lakh each.

Among emerging talents, Sakshi Rana won the Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women, U-21), while Prince Deep Singh was named the Jugraj Singh Award winner for Upcoming Player (Men, U-21). Both awards carried a prize of Rs 10 lakh each.

Earlier in the day, Raghu Prasad RV was honoured for being named FIH Umpire of the Year for 2025. Ishika was recognised for scoring on her debut against Uruguay during the FIH World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad.

Deepika received the Poligras Magic Skill Award, while Abhishek was honoured for being named Player of the Tournament at the Asia Cup Rajgir, Bihar 2025.

Udita was recognised as Player of the Tournament at the Women’s Asia Cup Hangzhou 2025, while Navneet Kaur was also honoured for her Player of the Tournament performance at the FIH World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad. All individual awardees in this category received Rs 1 lakh each.

Seven member units — Jharkhand, Haryana, Mizoram, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh — were awarded Rs 10 lakh each for their performances at the 15th National Championships in 2025, with Jharkhand also being named Best Member Unit of the Year.

The gold medal-winning Indian men’s team from the Asia Cup in Rajgir was felicitated, with each player receiving Rs 3 lakh and support staff Rs 1.5 lakh each. The junior men’s team, which won bronze at the World Cup, was also honoured, with players receiving Rs 5 lakh each and support staff Rs 2.5 lakh.

Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams received incentives for international match victories, with the men earning Rs 1.38 crore and the women Rs 69 lakh.

In the officials’ category, Sourabh Singh Rajput was awarded Hockey India President Award for Umpire/Umpire Manager of the Year 2025 (Rs 2.5 lakh), while Biswaranjan Sarangi received the award for Technical Official of the Year 2025 (Rs 2.5 lakh).

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The Hockey India President Award for Outstanding Achievement 2025 (Rs 5 lakh) was presented to Sardar Sarpal Singh of Roundglass Punjab Hockey Academy, while Manoj Konbegi received the Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable Contribution 2025 (Rs 5 lakh).

Several players were also recognised for landmark international appearances. Manpreet Singh received Rs 4 lakh for completing 400 caps, while Harmanpreet Singh got Rs 2.5 lakh for reaching 250 caps. Navneet Kaur and Nikki Pradhan were awarded Rs 2 lakh each for completing 200 caps.

Hardik Singh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Nilakanta Sharma, Jarmanpreet Singh and Salima Tete received Rs 1.5 lakh each for completing 150 caps, while Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh and Dilpreet Singh were awarded Rs 1 lakh each for reaching 100 caps.

The ceremony was attended by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse, along with Hockey India officials and former players.

Speaking on the occasion, Mandaviya said: “Sports plays an integral role in driving the country forward and hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games is India’s significant step in making its mark on the global stage, as we strive to host the Olympic Games in 2036 as well.

“Indian Hockey has a strong legacy of 100 years, and has given us eight Olympic medals. So, I am very happy to be here on stage to give honorary awards to players who have made India proud.”