CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: On the occasion of National Sports Day, the AISECT Group of Universities organised the AGU Sports Achievers Award 2025-26 ceremony at the Radisson Hotel in Bhopal to honour talented players and coaches who have brought recognition to the country and the state at national and international levels. A total of 148 players and coaches who delivered outstanding performances in various sports were honoured at the ceremony.

Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishvas Kailash Sarang attended the event as the chief guest. Ashok Kumar Singh ‘Dhyanchand’, SGSU Chancellor Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, RNTU Pro Chancellor Dr. Aditi Chaturvedi Vats, RNTU Vice-Chancellor Dr. R.P. Dubey, Registrar Dr. Sangeeta Jauhari and Rajiv Agrawal were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Vishvas Sarang said sports are not merely a medium of competition but an important means of developing discipline, self-confidence, leadership ability and a sense of pride for the country among young people. He said there is no shortage of talent among young players in Madhya Pradesh, and with proper training, facilities and opportunities, they can be prepared to perform better at national and international levels.

Ashok Kumar Singh ‘Dhyanchand’ said players should always draw inspiration from the life of his father and legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. He said dedication is paramount in the field of sports. Today, the country expects players to set new records and break old ones. Indian hockey has completed 100 years, and this is a matter of pride for us, he said. Praising the work being done by Rabindranath Tagore University in the field of sports, he said such efforts to provide better opportunities and facilities to players play an important role in taking sporting talent forward.

Dr. Aditi Chaturvedi Vats said the success of players is not only the result of their individual hard work, but also of the continuous support of their coaches, families and institutions. She said it is a matter of pride that Rabindranath Tagore University ranks 16th in the country and first in Madhya Pradesh in the field of sports. This achievement is the result of the dedication of the players, coaches and the entire university family, she said.

Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi said the achievements of the players are a matter of pride for the entire university. The objective of AGU in honouring players and coaches is to recognise their hard work and motivate them to perform even better in the future. He said continuous efforts are being made to provide necessary facilities and opportunities to sporting talent.

Outstanding performance by RNTU players at international level

Under the AGU Sports Achievers Award, players who achieved success at the international level were also honoured. According to the award details provided, prominent RNTU players included two-time Olympic medallist Vivek Sagar Prasad, hockey players Ishika Chaudhary and Jyoti Singh, Everest summiteer Anjana Yadav, Asian Cup bronze medallist in judo Shraddha Chapode, Asian Championship bronze medallist in shooting Mansi Raghuvanshi, Lakshmi, who won a gold medal at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, and Prem Kishore Mahito, who won a silver medal at the Triathlon World Championship.

In addition, Vanshika Tiwari, Shreshtha Sisodia, Aman Chauhan, Shrivalli Shrivastava, Hritika Singh and Jatin also participated in various international competitions. Neeraj Kishore of C.V. Raman University, Khandwa, won a bronze medal in wrestling at the Asian Championship, Pattaya 2026.

Medals also won in Khelo India and All India Inter-University competitions

RNTU players won medals in various sports, including judo, fencing, shooting, athletics and mallakhamb, at the Khelo India University Games, Rajasthan 2025.

In rowing, RNTU players won gold, silver and bronze medals in various events at All India Inter-University competitions. The award details include 26 rowing players for prize money. University players also won medals at the national level in mallakhamb, karate and badminton.

Coaches also honoured

Fourteen coaches who played an important role in the success of the players were also honoured. These included coaches associated with hockey, judo, shooting, badminton, rowing, mallakhamb, karate, fencing and athletics.

Speakers at the event said that behind the achievements of players, along with their continuous hard work, the contribution of coaches, the university and families is also important. They said AGU’s decision to honour coaches along with players is an important initiative towards the overall development of sporting talent.

The AISECT Group of Universities is giving special priority to sports along with education. Continuous efforts are being made to provide players with better training, facilities and opportunities to participate in national and international competitions.

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