Beyond the field, she was honoured in 2023 as a top emerging leader by TIME and one of the world's most inspiring women by the BBC.
From Moga to Global Glory: World Cup Winner Harmanpreet Kaur Nominated for 2025 BBC Sports Award
India’s World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur and fellow cricketer Smriti Mandhana have been named among the five nominees for the prestigious 2025 BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year (ISWOTY) award. The shortlist, announced on Monday, also includes 20-year-old chess sensation Divya Deshmukh, following a year of historic achievements for Indian women in sports.
Harmanpreet Kaur, hailing from Moga,Punjab, and her deputy Smriti Mandhana were central to India’s maiden ICC Women’s World Cup triumph in November 2025. In the semi-finals against Australia, Kaur led from the front with a match-winning 89-run knock while chasing a target of 339. Beyond the field, she was honoured in 2023 as a top emerging leader by TIME and one of the world's most inspiring women by the BBC.
The shortlist also features pistol shooting sensation Suruchi Singh and field athlete Jyothi Yarraji, who became the first Indian woman to qualify for the Olympic 100m hurdles.
Divya Deshmukh earned her spot after scripting history last July as the first Indian and youngest-ever champion of the FIDE Women’s World Cup.
Fiona Crack, Interim Global Director of BBC News, said that the awards celebrate a year of "sporting brilliance" and provide a platform to amplify the hard-earned achievements of Indian women to a global audience.
The nominees were selected by an eminent jury of sports editors, writers, and specialists who evaluated international performances over the past year.
Source: The Tribune
