Yuki Bhambri, Ankita Raina and Sumit Nagal
The 8th edition of the Times Of India Sports Awards (TOISA) will be held on March 21, 2026 in Lucknow, to celebrate the achievements and inspiring journeys of top Indian athletes across various sports.
TOISA 2025 will honor performances from January 1 to December 31, 2025, honoring iconic moments from world championships and international championships. More than 45 categories will honor sports icons and emerging talents who have brought pride to the country.The winners will be selected by a distinguished jury of sports legends, including Abhinav Bindra, BR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhagaria, Sharath Kamal and Leander Paes, ensuring credible recognition of excellence in Indian sports.
Here are the tennis players nominated for TOISA 2025:tennis (male)Rohan BopannaDate of birth: March 4, 1980Place of birth: Bengaluru, KarnatakaSports: TennisThe most important achievements in 2025:US Open: Played his last Grand Slam match in New York.Paris Masters: Partnered with Alexander Bublik in his final appearance at Tour level.She officially retired from professional tennis in November 2025 at the age of 45.Rohan Bopanna, the true legend of the sport, will end his illustrious two-decade career in 2025.
After becoming the oldest world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion in 2024, Bopanna used his final season to bid farewell to the world circuit, ending his journey as one of the most respected figures in tennis. His retirement marked the end of an era in Indian tennis, leaving behind a legacy of 26 ATP titles and two Grand Slam titles.Yuki BhambriDate of birth: July 4, 1992Place of birth: New DelhiSports: TennisThe most important achievements in 2025:Dubai Tennis Championships (ATP 500): Gold (doubles title with Alexei Popyrin)US Open: Reached his first Grand Slam semifinal (duet with Michael Venus)ATP Ranking Milestone: Break into the world’s top 20 in doubles.He overtook Rohan Bopanna to become India’s No. 1 doubles player.Yuki Hambri has enjoyed an exciting 2025, establishing himself as one of the world’s elite doubles specialists. He claimed his maiden ATP 500 title in Dubai and made a historic run to the semi-finals of the US Open, becoming the last Indian standing in the final tournament of the year. By climbing into the world top 20, Bhambri has effectively taken over the mantle of leadership in Indian men’s tennis after Bopanna’s retirement.Sumit NagalDate of birth: August 16, 1997Place of birth: Jhajjar, HaryanaSports: TennisThe most important achievements in 2025:Australian Open: main draw participant.Fulcombridge Cup: Reached the quarter-finals in Valencia.Braga Open: quarter-finals.He finished the year as India’s highest-ranked singles player.Sumit Nagal continues to lead India’s singles career on the ATP Challenger Championship and World Tour in 2025.
He maintained his presence in the main draw of Grand Slam tournaments with consistent results on his favorite clay courts in Europe, reaching the quarter-finals several times. Nagal’s resilience throughout the year ensured that India remained represented in the upper echelons of the world individual rankings during the national team’s transition period.Tennis (females) Ankita RainaDate of birth: January 11, 1993Place of birth: Ahmedabad, GujaratSports: TennisThe most important achievements in 2025:Chennai Open 125: Semi-finals (singles).ITF W60 Traralgon (Australia): Quarter-finals.It was ranked number one in India for a large part of the year.Ankita Raina has remained the most consistent force in Indian women’s tennis throughout 2025. Her breakout performance came at the WTA 125 Chennai Open, where she stunned her fans by progressing to the semi-finals after a hard-fought win over Romanian Irina Bara. On the international stage, she continued to rack up victories in Australia and Europe, proving her longevity and status as the mainstay of the Indian Billie Jean King Cup team.
Vaishnavi AdkarDate of birth: December 14, 2004Place of birth: Pune, MaharashtraSports: TennisThe most important achievements in 2025:FISU World University Games: Bronze (women’s singles).Vinista Women’s Nationals: Gold (National Champion).First Indian woman to win a tennis medal at the World University Games.Vaishnavi Adkar wrote history in 2025 by winning a bronze medal at the FISU World University Games in Rhein-Ruhr, Germany, ending India’s 46-year-long medal drought in tennis at the event.
Her win over local favorite Saina Herrmann in the quarter-finals secured India’s first medal in the sport since 1979. Domestically, she cemented her rising status by winning the prestigious Vinista National title, establishing her as the country’s brightest young prospect.Sahaja YamalapalliDate of birth: October 29, 2000Place of birth: Hyderabad, TelanganaSports: TennisThe most important achievements in 2025:WTA Chennai Open: Won her first match in the WTA main draw.ITF W35 Santo Domingo: Gold (doubles title with Hiroko Kuwata).She reached and finished first nationally in women’s singles.2025 saw Sahaga Yamalapalli make great strides on the professional tour, highlighted by her maiden success at the WTA Championships in Chennai, where she earned her first main draw win. She also added to her title locker with an ITF doubles title in the Dominican Republic. By ending the year as the AITA national number one, Sahaja confirmed her status as a major contender to lead the next generation of Indian women’s singles players.
