Kamal Ghorui
The eighth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards will be held on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow, celebrating the achievements of India’s finest athletes across multiple disciplines. The awards recognise performances delivered between January 1 and December 31, 2025, honouring standout displays at global championships and major international competitions. Featuring more than 45 categories, TOISA highlights both established champions and emerging talents who brought pride to the nation through exceptional performances during the year.The winners will be selected by a distinguished jury comprising some of India’s most celebrated sporting icons. Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, hockey legend PR Sreejesh, former cricket team captain Mithali Raj, Paralympic great Devendra Jhajharia, table tennis stalwart Sharath Kamal and tennis icon Leander Paes will evaluate the nominees across categories, ensuring a credible and expert assessment of excellence in Indian sport.The equestrian nominees reflect India’s growing strength in the discipline on the continental stage. Ashish Limaye made history by winning individual gold in eventing at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championships — India’s first-ever individual gold at the event — and also helped the country secure team silver. Veteran rider Shruti Vora enjoyed an outstanding campaign with three silver medals in dressage disciplines, while Divyakriti Singh played a key role in India’s team dressage silver and continued to rank among Asia’s top riders. Together, their performances highlighted a memorable year for Indian equestrian sport.Here are the nominees for Equestrian at TOISA 2025:Ashish LimayeDate of Birth: November 22, 1993Place of Birth: Pune, MaharashtraSport: EquestrianMajor Achievements in 2025:FEI Asian Equestrian Championships: Gold (Indivual – Eventing), Silver (Team – Eventing)Ashish Limaye spearheaded India’s success in eventing with a landmark performance at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championships, clinching the individual gold medal and etching his name in history as the country’s first-ever individual gold medallist at the event. He also played a pivotal role in guiding India to team silver in eventing, combining forces with Shashank Singh Kataria and Shashank Kanmuri to secure a memorable podium finish for the nation.Shruti VoraDate of Birth: January 6, 1971Place of Birth: Kolkata, West BengalSport: EquestrianMajor Achievements in 2025:FEI Asian Equestrian Championships: Three silver medals (Individual – Dressage; Dressage Intermediate Freestyle-I; Team Dressage)Shruti Vora enjoyed a standout 2025 season, highlighted by an impressive medal haul at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. Competing in dressage, the veteran 55-year-old secured three silver medals — one in the individual event, another in the Intermediate Freestyle-I, and a third in the team competition. Vora combined with Divyakriti Singh and Gaurav Pundir to power India to a podium finish in the team event, capping off a memorable continental campaign.Divyakriti SinghDate of Birth: October 22, 1999Place of Birth: Jaipur, RajasthanSport: EquestrianMajor Achievements in 2025:FEI Asian Equestrian Championships: Silver (Team Dressage)Divyakriti Singh played a pivotal role in India’s silver-medal finish in Team Dressage at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championships, further cementing her place among the country’s most accomplished riders. With this podium finish, she became the only Indian equestrian to have won medals at both the Asian Games and the Asian Championships. Earlier in May 2025, Divyakriti reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in Asia in the Global Dressage Rankings for 2024–25, published by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), the sport’s global governing body.
