New Delhi: India’s rising sports sensation Dhinidhi Desinghu captured national and global attention after becoming the youngest Indian athlete to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics at just 14 years of age. The Bengaluru-based swimming prodigy, who already holds three national records, has amassed an impressive 42 international medals, underlining her exceptional talent at a remarkably young age.
On Friday, Dhinidhi was formally honoured with the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, India’s highest civilian award for children. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, celebrating outstanding achievements by children across diverse fields.
In total, 20 children from 18 States and Union Territories were conferred with the award this year. Among them, nine young achievers were recognised for their extraordinary contributions to sports, reflecting India’s growing strength in nurturing grassroots athletic talent.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Sports Winners: Young Football and Chess Sensations
Anushka Kumari, a promising footballer from Ranchi, Jharkhand, emerged as one of the standout awardees. Coming from a modest background as the daughter of a daily-wage labourer, Anushka has already made her mark internationally. At the age of 14, she scored 10 goals in seven matches at the SAFF U17 Women’s Championship, including a remarkable hat-trick in just 19 minutes against Bhutan.
Equally remarkable is Pragnika Vaka, a seven-year-old chess prodigy from Surat, Gujarat. She clinched the world title at the World School Under-7 Girls Chess Championship 2025 in Serbia with a flawless score of nine wins from nine games. Pragnika was the only Indian to secure a gold medal across all age categories and sealed her championship even before the final round concluded.
Inspiring Para Athletes Defy Odds to Shine on Global Stage
Seventeen-year-old Shivani Uppara from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, has emerged as a leading para-athlete despite being born without a right arm. The daughter of vegetable vendors, Shivani excels in shot put and javelin throw in the F45 category. She became the U20 champion at the World Ability Sports Games in Thailand in 2023 and went on to win three gold medals at the National Junior and Sub-Junior Para Athletics Championships in Bengaluru in 2024.
Another inspiring story is that of Jyoti from Sirsa, Haryana. Born with one leg shorter than the other, the 17-year-old para-athlete has collected 12 medals at national and international competitions. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when she secured silver medals in javelin throw and shot put, along with a bronze in discus throw at an international meet in Thailand.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Sports Winners Across Judo, Mountaineering and Weightlifting
Yogita Mandavi, a 14-year-old judoka from Chhattisgarh, has overcome personal tragedy after losing both her parents. Her resilience and dedication have earned her medals at state and national levels, including a bronze at the Sub-Junior and Cadet Championship held in Hyderabad.
In mountaineering, Vishwanath Karthikey Padakanti achieved a historic milestone on May 27, 2025. The Hyderabad teenager became the youngest Indian and the second youngest person globally to complete the iconic Seven Summits challenge, which involves scaling the highest peak on each continent.
Jyoshna Sabar, a 17-year-old weightlifter from Odisha’s Gajapati district, also earned recognition for her international success. She won bronze at the Asian Youth Junior Weightlifting Championship in Albania in 2023, followed by gold at the Asian Junior Championship in New Delhi in 2024. In 2025, she claimed gold at the International Junior Weightlifting Championship in Peru, setting a new record by lifting the heaviest weight in her category.
Young Cricket Star Vaibhav Suryavanshi Makes History
Among the youngest awardees is Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old cricketing prodigy from Bihar. Born in 2011, Vaibhav created history in 2025 by becoming the youngest player ever to secure an Indian Premier League contract. He was signed by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.1 crore, marking a major milestone in Indian cricket.
Vaibhav also etched his name into the record books as the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket, smashing 101 runs off just 38 balls against the Gujarat Titans. His achievements highlight the rapid rise of young talent in Indian sport.
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