Who were the winners of the Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of the Year 2025 in the men’s and women’s categories?

The correct answer is Harmanpreet Singh and Savita Punia.

Key Points

• Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian men's hockey team, was awarded the Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of the Year 2025 in the men's category.
• Savita Punia, captain of the Indian women's hockey team, received the same award in the women's category for her exceptional performance.
• The awards are named after Balbir Singh Sr, one of the greatest hockey players in Indian history and a three-time Olympic gold medalist (1948, 1952, and 1956).
• The award recognizes outstanding contributions to Indian hockey and aims to inspire players to excel in their performances.
• Harmanpreet Singh and Savita Punia were acknowledged for their leadership, consistency, and significant contributions to India's success in international hockey tournaments.

Additional Information

• Harmanpreet Singh
  • Harmanpreet Singh is renowned for his expertise in drag flicks and is one of the top scorers in international hockey.
  • Under his leadership, the Indian men's hockey team achieved significant milestones, including a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
  • He was also named the FIH Men's Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
• Savita Punia
  • Savita Punia is often referred to as the "Wall of Indian Hockey" due to her exceptional goalkeeping skills.
  • She played a key role in India's historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where the women's team reached the semifinals for the first time.
  • Savita has been instrumental in India's victories in tournaments like the Asian Champions Trophy and the Commonwealth Games.
• Balbir Singh Sr
  • Balbir Singh Sr was an iconic figure in Indian hockey, celebrated for his unmatched skills and sportsmanship.
  • He holds the record for the most goals scored in an Olympic men's hockey final, with five goals in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
  • In 2012, he was named one of the 16 greatest Olympians of all time by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
• FIH Awards
  • The International Hockey Federation (FIH) recognizes outstanding players, goalkeepers, and coaches annually through the FIH Hockey Stars Awards.
  • India has frequently dominated the awards in recent years, reflecting the country's resurgence in global hockey.