Arumainayagam elated with Arjuna Award (Lifetime) honour
Indian football legend I. Arumainayagam has been awarded the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for 2025. He was a key member of the 1962 Asian Games gold-medal-winning team.
Why it matters
The award recognizes the historical contributions of veteran athletes to Indian sports, celebrating a legacy that spans decades.
Indian football great I. Arumainayagam was conferred the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) 2025 on Tuesday.
Arumainayagam, now in his 86th year, played for India during one of its most celebrated periods and was part of the team that won the gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta.
The speedy winger also turned out for the country at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup, where India finished runner-up, and at the 1966 Merdeka Cup, where India finished third.
He made his international debut against Thailand on August 28, 1962, at the Asian Games and went on to represent India 18 times, scoring three goals.
“He was a bit surprised, but happy and proud,” Arumainayagam’s son Nilton Christopher told The Hindu after the award announcement.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in