In 2025, Indian sports experienced a year of stark contrasts, defined by the ascendance of women athletes and persistent challenges in doping and administration. While women athletes achieved unprecedented success across various disciplines, the specter of doping violations and administrative failures continued to cast a shadow on the nation's sporting ambitions.
Triumphs of 'Nari Shakti'
2025 was a landmark year for Indian women in sports. Their achievements transcended mere medal counts, reshaping the narrative of Indian sports and inspiring a new generation.
- Cricket: The Indian women's cricket team clinched their first-ever ICC Women's World Cup title, defeating South Africa in a historic final. Deepti Sharma was named Player of the Tournament, becoming the only Indian player to score over 200 runs and take over 20 wickets in a single World Cup edition. India also won the inaugural Women's T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament.
- Chess: Divya Deshmukh won the FIDE Women's World Cup, becoming the youngest Indian woman to achieve this feat. An all-Indian final saw her defeat veteran Koneru Humpy.
- Boxing: Indian women dominated the World Boxing Championships, with Jaismine Lamboria and Minakshi Hooda securing gold medals. India's women boxers claimed seven gold medals at the World Boxing Cup Finals.
- Other Sports: TN Bhavani became the first Indian woman to win an international medal in cross-country skiing. Anupama Ramachandran became the first Indian woman to win the IBSF World Snooker Championship. The Indian women's ice hockey team claimed bronze at the IIHF Women's Asia Cup. Jyothi Yarraji won gold in the women's 100m hurdles at the Asian Athletics Championships.
The Persistent Shadow of Doping
Despite these achievements, Indian sports continued to grapple with the menace of doping.
- Global Leader in Doping Violations: India topped the global doping charts for the third consecutive year, with 260 athletes testing positive for banned substances in 2024. Athletics, weightlifting, and wrestling accounted for the majority of these cases.
- Reasons for Doping: The high number of doping violations pointed to systemic issues, including a lack of awareness at the grassroots level, contaminated supplements, and inadequate coaching. The lure of government jobs and lucrative cash awards also contributed to the problem.
- Government Initiatives: The government passed the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to strengthen the anti-doping framework and align it with global standards. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) increased testing and awareness programs.
Administrative and Governance Challenges
In 2025, Indian sports faced several administrative and governance challenges.
- ISL Postponement: The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season was put on hold due to unresolved negotiations between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).
- Controversies: A stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory resulted in 11 deaths. Tensions between India and Pakistan led to "no-handshake" incidents during the Asia Cup.
- Safety Concerns: Safety failures at sporting events raised concerns, including stray dog bites at the World Para Athletics Championships.
- Governance Reforms: The National Sports Policy 2025 aimed to address these challenges by promoting transparency, accountability, and professionalism in sports administration.
Despite the remarkable achievements of Indian women athletes, the year 2025 highlighted the urgent need to address doping and governance issues to ensure a sustainable and ethical sporting ecosystem.
