India celebrated some of its biggest sporting personalities recently as President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards during the first civil investiture ceremony of 2026 at the Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The ceremony was attended by several top leaders, including Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. During the event, the President presented two Padma Vibhushan awards, six Padma Bhushan honours and 58 Padma Shri awards.
Among the recipients were nine personalities connected to Indian sports, including athletes, coaches and experts who have made remarkable contributions in their respective fields over many years.
Here is a look at the sportspersons and coaches who received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards this year.
1. Vijay Amritraj:
Former tennis star Vijay Amritraj was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, for his exceptional contribution to sports. The award further strengthened his legacy as one of India’s pioneering sports personalities.
Vijay Amritraj is known not only for his achievements as a tennis player but also for his work as a broadcaster, commentator and sports administrator. Over the decades, he has remained one of the most respected faces of Indian sport.
2. Rohit Sharma:
Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma received the Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.
Rohit now plays only One Day Internationals for team India after retiring from both Tests and T20 Internationals. During his international career, he played 67 Tests, 282 ODIs and 159 T20Is. In Test cricket alone, Rohit scored 4301 runs, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. He remains one of the most successful white-ball batters India has produced.
3. Baldev Singh:
Veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh was also honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian hockey.
Baldev played a huge role in turning the small town of Shahabad Markanda on NH44 into a major centre for hockey talent. He first joined the Haryana Sports Department as a coach in 1982 and worked in Shahabad Markanda for four years. He later returned to the town in 1993 and helped build one of the country’s strongest hockey nurseries, producing several talented players over the years.
4. Bhagwandas Raikwar:
Bhagwandas Raikwar, popularly known as ‘Dau’ Ji, received the Padma Shri for his lifelong efforts to preserve Bundeli Martial Arts.
Bhagwandas Raikwar belongs to Sagar and is regarded as one of the pioneers of the traditional Akhada fighting style. In 1964, despite having limited resources, he established the Chhatrasal Bundelkhand Akhada to ensure the indigenous martial art continued to survive and grow. His efforts helped keep an important traditional Indian sport alive for future generations.
5. Harmanpreet Kaur:
Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded the Padma Shri for her outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.
She was recognised for her leadership and for guiding India to a historic Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph. Harmanpreet has become one of the most influential figures in women’s cricket and continues to inspire young players across the country.
6. K Pajanivel:
Silambam expert K Pajanivel was also honoured with the Padma Shri. Pajanivel comes from the coastal village of Pooranankuppam and has spent his life promoting the ancient martial art of Silambam, which is believed to be nearly 5,000 years old.
He started practising the weapons-based martial art as a child and later played a major role in transforming it into a recognised competitive sport at the international level. He also competed in and won several tournaments during his career.
7. Praveen Kumar:
Paralympic champion Praveen Kumar received the Padma Shri after his remarkable success in para-athletics. Born with a physical disability, Praveen first won a silver medal in the men’s high jump T64 event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. He later improved that achievement by winning gold at the 2024 Summer Paralympics with a personal-best jump of 2.08 metres. His journey has become an inspiration for athletes across the country.
8. Savita Punia:
Former Indian women’s hockey team captain and goalkeeper Savita Punia was also honoured with the Padma Shri. Known as the “Great Wall of India”, Savita has represented the country in more than 300 international matches. She has also won the prestigious FIH Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for her brilliant performances on the field. Her consistency and leadership have made her one of India’s finest hockey players.
9. Vladimer Mestvirishvili:
Late coach Vladimer Mestvirishvili was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri.
Vladimer Mestvirishvili passed away in Tbilisi on June 23 last year at the age of 81 due to age-related illness. By honouring him with the Padma Shri award, the Indian government also made him the first foreign coach ever to receive the prestigious civilian honour. His contribution to Indian sport and coaching left a lasting impact that continues to be remembered.
By celebrating these achievements, the nation acknowledged not only excellence in performance but also years of dedication, hard work and commitment to Indian sports.
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