India’s sport success is often measured in medals, podium finishes and historic performances. But many of those accomplishments do not get that credit to the coaches who work away from the spotlight and train athletes on how to be disciplined, how to use technique and how to perform at the highest level.
Boxing coach Chhote Lal Yadav is now being recognised for that with the Dronacharya Award.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports declared the National Sports Awards 2025 on August 18, 2026. Chhote Lal Yadav was selected for the Dronacharya Award in the regular category of boxing.
The award is given to a coach based on the performance of the coach who is responsible for consistent and professional work and who gives sportspersons a chance to excel in international events.
A coach behind the Champions
Chhote Lal has worked with Indian boxers and has helped develop the country's boxing program. His coaching career has involved working with top level athletes (technical, fitness and tactical knowledge) and their win or loss is often a factor.
His recognition also underscores a big part of Indian sport: the fact that coaches do not get as much public attention as the athletes they train. Boxers step into the ring in the bright light, but the coaches are there behind the scenes and they analyse the performance and adjust the strategy.
Chhote Lal is already associated with India’s national boxing team. His coaching of top Indian boxers has made him one of the coaches who have helped the country to grow in international boxing.
Dronacharya honour spurs Chhote Lal, Arjuna recognition motivates Narender ahead of Asian Games.
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) August 19, 2026
Veteran boxing coach Chhote Lal Yadav, who has worked with some of India's biggest names including the legendary Mary Kom, said the Dronacharya Award has only increased his hunger to… pic.twitter.com/bibEw4c75j
Dronacharya Award recognizes Coaching Excellence
The Dronacharya Award is one of India's highest sporting honours for coaches. The government says it is intended for coaches who demonstrate outstanding and meritorious work consistently and enable athletes to perform successfully at international competitions.
For 2025, Chhote Lal was selected along with athletics coach Parveer Singh and shooting coach Neha Nandkumar Chavan in the regular category. Boxing coach Dharmendra Singh Yadav and wrestling coach Virender Kumar were chosen for the Lifetime category.
The selection committee was headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra and included sportspersons, sports administrators and people with experience in sports journalism. A large number of applications were considered before the final selections were announced.
To celebrate the work that goes behind the Medal
Chhote Lal’s Dronacharya Award is much more than a privilege. And it is an insight that sports excellence is built by years of preparation, repetition and guidance.
The recognition of Chhote Lal is even more significant for Indian boxing as it is he who has shaped the competitive boxing culture. India’s efforts will only grow as more and more big international events come to India and that is why he is an important part of this.
So the award is about the quieter side of sporting success, the hours spent training, correcting technique and preparing athletes long before they get into the ring.
