Indian football titan IM Vijayan and para athletics coach Satyapal Singh, who mentored Paris Paralympics gold-winning high-jumper Praveen Kumar, would also be bestowed with the Padma Shri
Indian hockey stalwart PR Sreejesh was selected for the Padma Bhushan, while recently-retired spin-bowling legend Ravichandran Ashwin was among the Padma Shri winners as four athletes and a para coach were named in the list of 139 finalised for the coveted civilian awards on Saturday, January 25. (More Sports News)
India's first Paralympic gold medal-winning archer Harvinder Singh and Indian football titan IM Vijayan too were chosen for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour of the country. Para athletics coach Satyapal Singh, who mentored Paris Paralympics gold-winning and Khel Ratna-awardee high-jumper Praveen Kumar, would also be bestowed with the Padma Shri.
The 36-year-old Sreejesh, who hung up his goalkeeping gloves after winning a second consecutive Olympic bronze with the national team in Paris, is the head coach of the junior men's team currently. Ashwin, 38, bid farewell to international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, ending up as India's second highest wicket-taker in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games.
The five sports figures were picked for the Padma awards by President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of the 76th Republic Day. Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian honour after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan.
The Padma awards are given for distinguished services to public across fields. This year's annual honours' list comprises seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri award-winners.
(With PTI inputs)