Cash Awards Presented to Players for Outstanding Performances at National and International Levels
Sept 02: On the occasion of National Sports Day, AISECT Group of Universities (AGU) organized the AGU Sports Achievers Award 2025-26 ceremony on Monday at the Radisson Hotel in Bhopal to honour talented players and coaches who have brought pride to the country and the state through their achievements at national and international levels. A total of 148 players and coaches who have excelled in various sports were honoured during the ceremony
.Madhya Pradesh Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare, Vishwas Kailash Sarang, attended the event as the Chief Guest. The programme was also attended by Ashok Kumar Singh ‘Dhyan Chand’, SGSU Chancellor Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, RNTU Pro-Chancellor Dr. Aditi Chaturvedi Vats, RNTU Vice-Chancellor Dr. R.P. Dubey, Registrar Dr. Sangeeta Johri, and Rajeev Agrawal.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Vishwas Sarang said that sports are not merely a means of competition but also play an important role in developing discipline, self-confidence, leadership qualities, and a sense of national pride among young people. He said that Madhya Pradesh has no dearth of talented young athletes and that with the right training, facilities, and opportunities, they can be prepared to perform at higher levels nationally and internationally.
Ashok Kumar Singh ‘Dhyan Chand’ said that players should always draw inspiration from the life of his father and legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. He emphasised that dedication is paramount in sports. He said that the country now expects athletes to set new records and surpass existing ones. With Indian hockey completing 100 years, he described it as a matter of great pride. He also appreciated the work being undertaken by Rabindranath Tagore University (RNTU) in the field of sports and said that such efforts to provide players with better opportunities and facilities play an important role in nurturing and advancing sporting talent.
Dr. Aditi Chaturvedi Vats said that the success of players is not solely the result of their individual hard work; the continuous support of their coaches, families, and institutions also plays a vital role. She said, “We are proud 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 our players, coaches, and the entire university family.”
Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi said that the achievements of the players are a matter of pride for the entire university. He added that AGU’s objective in honouring players and coaches is to recognise their hard work and motivate them to achieve even greater success in the future. He said that continuous efforts are being made to provide sporting talent with the necessary facilities and opportunities.
RNTU Players Deliver Outstanding Performances at International Level
Under the AGU Sports Achievers Award, players who have achieved success at the international level were also honoured. According to the award details, prominent RNTU players included two-time Olympic medallist Vivek Sagar Prasad, hockey players Ishika Chaudhary and Jyoti Singh, Anjana Yadav, who summited Mount Everest, Shraddha Chapode, an Asian Cup bronze medallist in judo, Mansi Raghuvanshi, an Asian Championship bronze medallist in shooting, Lakshmi, who won a gold medal at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, and Prem Kishore Mahito, who secured a silver medal at the Triathlon World Championships.
In addition, Vanshika Tiwari, Shrestha Sisodia, Aman Chauhan, Shrivalli Srivastava, Hrithika Singh, and Jatin also participated in various international competitions. Meanwhile, Neeraj Kishore of C.V. Raman University, Khandwa, won a bronze medal in wrestling at the Asian Championship, Pattaya 2026.
Medals at Khelo India and All India Inter-University Competitions
RNTU players also won medals in various disciplines, including judo, fencing, shooting, athletics, and Mallakhamb, at the Khelo India University Games, Rajasthan 2025. In rowing, RNTU players secured gold, silver, and bronze medals in various events at the All-India Inter-University competitions. According to the award details, 26 rowing players have been included for the cash awards. University players also won national-level medals in Mallakhamb, karate, and badminton.
Coaches Also Honoured
A total of 14 coaches, who played an important role in the success of the players, were also honoured. They included coaches associated with hockey, judo, shooting, badminton, rowing, Mallakhamb, karate, fencing, and athletics. Speakers at the event highlighted that behind the achievements of players lies not only their consistent hard work but also the significant contribution of their coaches, universities, and families. AGU’s initiative to honour coaches alongside players was described as an important step towards the holistic development of sporting talent.
AISECT Group of Universities is giving special priority to sports alongside education. Continuous efforts are being made to provide players with better training and facilities, as well as opportunities to participate in national and international competitions.