Bengaluru, 24 February (HS): Mumbai's well-known photographer Nikhil Patil set a new record in the field of sports photography in the country by winning the Indian Sports Photography Award (ISPA) 2025. He was given this prestigious award for capturing the historic moment of Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri's 100th international match in a wonderful way.

Grand event held at Bengaluru International Center

ISPA 2025 was organized at Bengaluru International Center, where the best sports photographers of the country were honored. On this occasion, Neha Ganeriwal in the women's sports category and Sandeep Parshuram Pangarkar in the cricket category got second and third place respectively.

Jury formed under the chairmanship of Gagan Narang

The entries for this prestigious award were evaluated under the chairmanship of Olympic medalist Gagan Narang. Though he could not be present in person, renowned sports journalist Sharda Ugra announced the winners on his behalf.

Gagan Narang congratulates the winners

Gagan Narang, while addressing virtually, said, Sports photography is not just limited to capturing action, but it is a medium to cherish moments that tell a story, inspire generations and celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship. This is what this year's winners have shown through their photographs - every frame tells a deeper story.

Discussing the winning images, he said, The moment of Sunil Chhetri thanking the crowd reflects dedication and passion. The cricket photograph shows all the disciplines in the air, which beautifully captures the speed and energy of the game. Simone Biles' photograph captures the tough moments and makes us think about how much hard work and struggle a player puts in his career. ISPA starts new tradition for sports photography

Paul R, Founder of Positive Sports Vibe Community, the driving force behind ISPA 2025, said, “The awards aim to honour photographers who bring sports to life through their lenses. This inaugural edition has laid the foundation for a new tradition to recognise the power of sports photography in India. The talent we have seen is an incredible start.”

The success of ISPA 2025 is proving to be an important milestone in the field of Indian sports photography. The event is now moving towards establishing itself as an annual celebration for the country’s finest visual storytellers.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar