Sportstar Aces Awards: Women cricketers steal the show

The eighth edition of the Sportstar Aces Awards was held at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel here on Friday, celebrating the athletes, teams and defining moments that shaped the past year in Indian sport.

If the evening had a unifying thread, it was the journey of women’s cricket in India and the generations that carried it forward.

Ten former captains of the national side — Diana Edulji, Shubhangi Kulkarni, Sudha Shah, Nilima Joglekar, Sandhya Agarwal, Pramila Bhat, Purnima Rau, Chanderkanta Kaul, Anju Jain and Jhulan Goswami — were honoured.

Former Indian women’s cricket team captains with The Hindu Group’s chairperson Nirmala Lakshman and Casagrand’s Sumanth Krishna.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI

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.

Tribute to the pioneers

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 Shantha Rangaswamy carried the dreams of Indian women’s sport on their shoulders,” she said. “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.”

Union of past & present

Sportstar editor Ayon Sengupta said the awards evening was as much about remembering those who built the foundations of Indian sport as it was about celebrating its present champions.

“At Sportstar, we have been fortunate to chronicle the journey of Indian sport and of Indian women in sport since 1978,” he said. “Many of these pioneers have appeared in our pages, on our covers and in the iconic centre spreads that generations of sports fans have grown up with.”

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

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 defined by skill, leadership and remarkable resilience, while hurdler M.D. Valsamma was honoured for her lasting contribution to Indian athletics.

Contractor’s moment on stage proved particularly emotional. The award was presented by Sunil Gavaskar, who spoke movingly about how Contractor had inspired him early in his career.

As Gavaskar recalled those memories, his voice briefly faltered, drawing a warm response from the audience. Contractor received a standing ovation.

Australian great Glenn McGrath was honoured with the International Icon Award, presented by Sportstar Aces Awards jury chair Gavaskar, in recognition of a career that helped define an era of fast bowling.

Shooting prodigy Suruchi Singh enjoyed a memorable evening, completing a double. 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.

Reward for Deepti

Deepti Sharma was named Sportswoman of the Year in Team Sports, recognising her influence in India’s World Cup triumph.

Among the evening’s most celebrated figures were boxing legend Mary Kom and Olympic wrestling medallist Sakshi Malik, who received the Ace of Aces award for their enduring impact on Indian sport.

The Award of Excellence recognised three athletes: Woman Grandmaster Tania Sachdev, table tennis star Manika Batra and former Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal, each of whom has played a vital role in raising the global profile of Indian sport. In other honours, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar won the Comeback of the Year award, while GMR Sports received the award for Best Corporate for the Promotion of Sport.

IndianOil Corporation Ltd. was recognised as the Best PSU for the Promotion of Sport, the International Institute of Sports & Management was named Best Educational Institution for the Promotion of Sport, and Project Nanhi Kali received the Sports for Social Good award while Bihar won the Best State for Promotion of Sport.

Published – March 14, 2026 12:12 am IST