TOISA 2021: Neeraj Chopra headlines the list of winners

The glittering ceremony saw a galaxy of stars coming together to celebrate and honour the top sporting achievements from last year, and those present at the function included hockey stalwarts Zafar Iqbal, Ajit Pal Singh and Dilip Tirkey, wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat and boxer MC Mary Kom. TOISA 2021: AS IT HAPPENEDChopra's historic Olympic gold in men's javelin throw at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics in 2021 had no parallel when it came to declaring the 'Sportsperson of the Year', besides being awarded the 'Athlete of the Year' award in men's category.

It was the first track and field Olympic medal won by an Indian since independence. The lifetime achievement award was given to former Indian captain and spinner Bishan Singh Bedi, who played Test cricket for India from 1966 to 1979.

He played a total of 67 Tests and took 266 wickets. For his silver medal at the 2021 World Championships, shuttler Kidambi Srikanth won the TOISA for 'Badminton Player of the Year' among the men, while PV Sindhu's bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics won her another TOISA in the women's category.

Sindhu's second Olympic medal made her the first woman from India to stand on the Olympic podium twice.. The who's who among the TOISA 2021 jury included 1983 cricket World Cup winner Madan Lal, athletics world championships medallist Anju Bobby George, Olympic medal-winning shooter Gagan Narang, India's first men's Olympic boxing medallist Vijender Singh, the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic medal Deepa Malik and former captain of the Indian men's hockey team Sandeep Singh, who is also the current Haryana Sports Minister.