Indian Women's Hockey Team forward Navneet Kaur was honoured with the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Women) at the Hockey India 8th Annual Awards 2025, held in New Delhi on Friday.
Navneet Kaur has distinguished herself as one of India's most consistent attacking players over the past year.
She played a key role in India securing the Silver medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad, finishing as the third-highest goal scorer with four goals and earning the Player of the Tournament title. Navneet also contributed significantly to India's campaign at the Women’s Asia Cup 2025, where the team won Silver and she scored six goals throughout the competition.
During this period, she reached the milestone of 200 international caps, underlining her experience and longevity in the sport. Navneet has regularly delivered in high-pressure tournaments, providing crucial goals and maintaining attacking momentum, which has solidified her position as a central figure in India's forward line.
Speaking after receiving the award, Navneet stated, “I am truly honoured to be named Player of the Year. This recognition means a lot, and I owe it to my teammates whose constant support and belief have played a huge role in this achievement. I would also like to thank Hockey India for organising this awards platform every year–it is a great source of motivation for players across the country.”
Looking ahead, she said, “We are gearing up for a crucial stretch of the season with major tournaments like the Nations Cup, World Cup and Asian Games ahead. Our camp begins soon, and while we were pleased with our performance in the last tournament, we know there are areas that need improvement. The focus now is on addressing those gaps and continuing to raise our level as a team.”
India will compete in Group D at the World Cup from August 14-30 against China, England and South Africa.
Regarding her personal ambitions, Navneet commented, “I will also be focusing on elevating my personal performance. While I am satisfied with what I’ve achieved so far, I know there is still room to grow and improve. There are marquee tournaments that come around only once in four years, so I’m determined to give my absolute best and contribute towards strong results for the team.”
With several important tournaments ahead, Navneet remains committed to enhancing her performance and contributing to India’s continued success internationally.