Five Indian sportswomen have been nominated for the Sportstar of the Year (Female) honour in the eighth edition of the Sportstar Aces Awards. The nominees include cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma, boxer Jaismine Lamboria, chess player Divya Deshmukh, and squash player Anahat Singh. Fans can vote for their favourite by February 28.
The nominations highlight standout performances by these athletes in 2025. Smriti Mandhana had a strong year with the bat, helping India secure its first Women's ODI World Cup title. Deepti Sharma contributed with all-round skills, earning the Player of the Tournament award during the home triumph.
In boxing, Jaismine Lamboria won her first World Championship. Divya Deshmukh made history in chess as the first Indian to claim the FIDE Chess World Cup, securing a spot in the Candidates tournament and achieving the Grandmaster title. Seventeen-year-old Anahat Singh has been prominent in squash, aiding India's World Cup success and securing her third straight national title.
These trailblazers are in contention for the prestigious award. Voting is open until February 28 via a QR code. The awards also feature 19 jury categories, decided by a panel led by Sunil Gavaskar. Other members include Abhinav Bindra, M.M. Somaya, Viswanathan Anand, Anjali Bhagwat, and Aparna Popat. A separate Chairperson’s Award recognises efforts in sports for social good.
