A myriad of the country's best sportspersons were in attendance in Mumbai for the second TOISA, where the inimitable Nadia Comaneci, the world's first ever perfect ten gymnast, was present as the mentor. This year's awards proudly honored the four lion-hearts who scripted India's most successful Paralympics ever: javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia, who broke his own record while claiming his second medal; Deepa Malik, who won silver in the shot put F-53 event to become the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic medal; and high jumpers Mariyappan Thangavelu, who created history by winning gold, and Varun Bhati who claimed bronze.
Indian hockey great Ajit Pal Singh, who has the distinction of being the only Indian captain to lift the World Cup, was the recipient of the TOISA Lifetime Achievement Award while the youngest T20I debutant for India Rishabh Pant was chosen as the Emerging Player of the Year.
Three new categories were introduced at this year's TOISA. The India team which won the 2016 Junior Hockey World Cup was named Team of the Year, Dronacharya Award winners Pullela Gopichand and Bisheshwar Nandi were announced joint Coach/Mentor of the Year and Haryana was voted State of the Year for its role in producing and supporting leading sportspersons to shine at the national and international level.
In an Olympic year, performances at the 2016 Rio Games naturally emerged as the biggest Jury's Choice picks. Dipa Karmakar was declared winner of the TOISA Gymnast of the Year Award and Inspiration of the Year; Sakshi Malik, who became the first woman wrestler from India to bag an Olympic medal, was named Wrestler of the Year Award; Abhinav Bindra bagged the Shooter of the Year Award following his final performance on the international stage, this was his third Olympic final where he came within 0.1 of winning a second medal at the pinnacle of world sport; long-distance runner Lalita Babar won Athlete of the Year Award after becoming the first Indian to qualify for the final of an athletics track event at the Olympics since PT Usha in 1984; Atanu Das was adjudged Archer of the Year; and Rio inspiration Dattu Baban Bhokanal named Rower of the Year.
Sania Mirza has won the TOISA Tennis Player of the Year for the second edition running, beating Leander Paes and Saketh Myneni, while Panjaj Advani won his second TOISA award, being adjudged Billiards Player of the Year.
Drag-flick specialist and India's leading goal-scorer in 2016, Rupinder Pal Singh was adjudged Hockey Player of the Year, Dipika Pallikal Karthik the Squash Player of the Year, Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli was the Chess Player of the Year, Jeje Lakpekhlua was given Footballer of the Year Award, Vikas Krishan the TOISA Boxer of the Year Award and India's premier spinner and the top-ranked bowler and allrounder in the ICC ratings, Ravichandran Ashwin, was winner of the Cricketer of the Year Award.
Here is a list of the other deserving winners and recipients:
Sportsperson of the Year: PV Sindhu
Athletics: Lalita Babar
Archery: Atanu Das
Badminton: PV Sindhu
Billiards: Pankaj Advani
Boxing: Vikas Krishan
Chess: Harika Dronavalli
Cricket: Ravichandran Ashwin
Football: Jeje Lalpekhlua
Gymnastics: Dipa Karmakar
Golf: Anirban Lahiri
Hockey: Rupinder Pal Singh
Kabbadi: Ajay Thakur
Rowing: Dattu Baban Bhokanal
Squash: Dipika Pallikal Karthik
Shooting: Abhinav Bindra
Tennis: Sania Mirza
Wrestling: Sakshi Malik
Who Is Your Favourite Out Of The Ones Nominated This Year?