BBC announces nominees for Indian Sportswoman Of The Year Award

Golfer Aditi Ashok, shooters Manu Bhaker and Avani Lekhara, cricketer Smriti Mandhana and wrestler Vinesh Phogat were on Thursday announced nominees for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) Award, which returns for its fifth edition.

These nominees for the year 2024 have been shortlisted by an eminent jury of sports journalists and writers.

Fiona Crack, Deputy Global Director, BBC News, says, “Now in its fifth year, the BBC’s Indian Sportswoman of the Year is unprecedented in its ability to bring women’s sporting achievements to the fore and has rightly shone a bright light on a range of inspirational sports stars across the country. We’re delighted to announce the nominees for this year’s awards and look forward to showcasing their talent and dedication to the world.”

Rupa Jha, CEO of Collective Newsroom, says, “I am thrilled that the ISWOTY awards continue to celebrate trailblazing female athletes by recognising their outstanding achievements. These accolades play a pivotal role in promoting inclusivity, breaking gender stereotypes, and enhancing the visibility of women’s sports.”

Public voting is now open on the BBC Indian Languages websites and BBC News Sport. It will remain open until January 31 at 23.30 IST.

“Everyone is welcome to vote for their favourite athlete, with the winner to be announced at the BBC ISWOTY awards ceremony on 17 February,” said a statement from BBC.

In addition to the award voted for by the public, three further awards will be presented: BBC Emerging Player of the Year award, to recognise the achievements of a young female athlete; BBC Lifetime Achievement award, to celebrate a female sports veteran for their unparalleled contribution to sports; and BBC Para Sportswoman of the Year award, to highlight excellence in para-sports.

This year’s supplement of BBC ISWOTY is Champions’ Champions which includes a special documentary and stories highlighting the individuals behind the creation of sports champions.

“The audiences worldwide can vote through: BBC News, BBC News Hindi, BBC News Punjabi, BBC News Marathi, BBC News Tamil, BBC News Telugu, BBC News Gujarati,” added the statement.

Know the nominees:

Aditi Ashok, 26, is India’s brightest star in women’s golf.  At 18, she became one of the youngest golfers to represent India at the Rio Olympics in 2016.  She finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and won a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games. However, a medal eluded her at her third Olympics in 2024. With five Ladies European Tour (LET) victories and the prestigious Arjuna Award, Aditi continues to inspire and lead the way for women’s golf in India.

Manu Bhaker, 22, is the first Indian player to win two medals at the same Olympics since Independence, securing two bronze medals in pistol shooting at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  In 2018, she made history as the youngest Indian shooter to win a World Cup gold at just 16.  A recipient of Arjuna Award, Manu was also honoured with BBC’s Emerging Player of the Year award in 2021. She is being awarded Khel Ratna on 17 January 2025.

Avani Lekhara, 23, is a para sports star and the first Indian woman athlete to win three Paralympic medals. Initially taking up shooting as a hobby, she began competing and quickly made her mark.  At the 2020 Paralympic Games, she won a gold and a bronze, followed by a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games.  In the 2024 Paris Paralympics she bagged a gold medal. For her outstanding achievements, Avani has been honoured with the Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awards.

Smriti Mandhana, 28, is one of India’s leading female cricketers. In 2024, she set a record with four One Day International (ODI) centuries in a single year. As captain, she led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to the Women’s Premier League 2024 title and played a crucial role in India’s gold medal win at the 2023 Asian Games.  She was also part of the team that won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.  A two-time ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2018 and 2022, Smriti made history by winning the award twice.  She has become a role model for her team and many young girls across the country.

Vinesh Phogat, 30, is a three-time Olympian and one of India’s top wrestlers.  She made history as the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final.  Vinesh has won bronze at the World Championships in 2019 and 2022, and gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2014, 2018, and 2022.  She is also a legislator from Haryana, representing the Congress Party.

Tags : BBC, Aditi Ashok, Manu Bhaker, Avani Lekhara, Smriti Mandhana, Vinesh Phogat