Manu Bhaker, Neeraj Chopra, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Singh among winners at the fifth edition of the Indian Sports Honours

Shreyanka Patil with Performance of the Year (Female) trophy.

Khel Today Bureau

Mumbai: On a night that aimed to celebrate the achievements of some of India’s top sports personalities and athletes, the fifth edition of the esteemed Indian Sports Honours was held on November 9 in Mumbai. Conceptualised by Cornerstone Sport, the event saw renowned celebrities and sportspersons coming together to recognize India’s success in sports, and honour the extraordinary achievements of the athletes in the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and other key sports.

Harmanpreet Singh with Sportsman of the Year (Team Sport) trophy.

Manu Bhaker, Neeraj Chopra, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Singh were honored with the top honours by the jury as a recognition of their illustrious achievements and unwavering dedication towards their respective sports.

Manu Bhaker won the Sportswoman of the Year in individual sports honour. She made her mark on the world stage after winning two bronze medals in the 10 meter air pistol women’s event and 10 meter air pistol mixed team event at the Paris Olympics this year. Her precision, focus, and groundbreaking successes on the world stage have made her one of India’s most revered athletes in the sport.

This wasn’t Manu Bhaker’s first ISH Honour. She was the Emerging Sportswoman of the Year in 2019 as well. Upon winning the award she said. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the jury and to the Indian Sports Honours, for bestowing me with this honour. This award is not just mine; it’s for my family, my coaches, and for everyone who supported me and believed in me in this journey.”

Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin-throwing superstar, was honoured with the Sportsman of the Year in individual sports. An Olympic gold medal winner in 2020, he bagged two silver medals this year, winning at the Paris Olympics and the Diamond League in Brussels. His accolade at the Indian Sports Honours 2024 recognizes his sustained excellence and his pivotal role in inspiring a new generation of Indian athletes.

This was Neeraj Chopra’s second ISH honour, having won the Sportsman of the Year last time out as well. Acknowledging the honour, he said, “Thank you to the jury for the honour and congratulations and all the best to all the other winners. Also thank you to my whole team without whom I won’t be where I am today.”

Smriti Mandhana won the Sportswoman of the Year in team sports for her strong performances with the bat for India and as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League. Mandhana’s consistent performances, strategic prowess, and influential role in popularizing women’s cricket have solidified her position as a leader in Indian team sports. This was her second Sportswoman of the Year in team sports honour, after having won it in 2019. Mandhana said, “Extremely happy and proud not just for being bestowed with this honour but for what it stands for. I hope this inspires all the women out there to reach new heights and make us proud.”

Indian hockey team captain, Harmanpreet Singh won the Sportsman of the Year in team sports honour. A true leader, he helped India win the bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Harmanpreet also led the team to their Asian Champions Trophy title this year.

While collecting the honour, Harmanpreet said, “The credit for this honour goes to my whole team. All the athletes nominated or representing India in any sport deserve to win this honour.”

picture credit: Colston Julian. 

Here is the complete list of all the ISH 2024 winners:

– Sportsman of the Year (Individual Sport) – Neeraj Chopra
– Sportswoman of the Year (Individual Sport) – Manu Bhaker
– Sportsman of the Year (Team Sport) – Harmanpreet Singh
– Sportswoman of the Year (Team Sport) – Smriti Mandhana
– Coach of the Year (Male) – Jaspal Rana
– Coach of the Year (Female) – Suma Shirur
– Team of the Year (Male) – Indian Hockey Team
– Team of the Year (Female) – Chess
– Star Sports Believe Honour – Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Para Athlete of the Year (Male) – Sumit Antil
– Para Athlete of the Year (Female) – Avani Lekhara
– SSF Grassroots Initiative Of The Year Honour – Mrida Education University
– Popular Choice Breakthrough Performance of the Year (Male) – Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Popular Choice Breakthrough Performance of the Year (Female) – Shreyanka Patil
– Popular choice Club of the Year – Kolkata Knight Riders
– Popular Choice Fan club of the Year – Manjappada (Kerala Blasters)
– Lifetime Achievement Honour – Padma Shri Murlikant Petkar

The jury for this esteemed event was led by Abhinav Bindra, a member of the IOC and India’s first individual Olympic medal, as a chairperson. Alongside him, was the President of the IOA and Indian legend, P.T. Usha, former World Number One shooter, Anjali Bhagwat, and Sanjog Gupta, Head of Sports at Disney+ Star. The jury also included Boxing Olympic Bronze medalist Vijender Singh, Olympic Wrestling Bronze medalist, Yogeshwar Dutt, and former Indian hockey captain and player, Sardar Singh.

During the event when Bindra was asked for his opinion on the current generation of athletes, he said, “These young athletes have a lot of self-belief. They want to go out there and win. This confidence is pretty amazing to watch.” When asked his thoughts on the facilities available for the younger generation, he replied. “I think infrastructure has improved in the country over the last decade or so but there is still a lot more to be done. I was amazed hearing the statistic recently that 70% of schools in India don’t have a playground. So, things at that school level, I believe, need to change. But I think a lot of good work has happened at that elite level.”