Padma awards are one of the most prestigious civilian awards in India and sports are a special part of it. In 2019 sportspersons from various field got the Padma honours by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
Double cricket World Cup-winner Gautam Gambhir who announced his retirement from international cricket last year received the Padma Shree award. Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri also received the same for his outstanding contribution in the sports world.
Alongside Gambhir and Chhetri, archer Bombayla Devi Laishram and Prashanti Singh got the fourth highest civilian honour. Bombayla Devi represented India in three consecutive Olympic Games - Beijing Olympics 2008, London Olympics 2012 and Rio Olympics 2016, while Prashanti Singh is a noted basketball player.
Bachendri Pal who is the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest received the third highest civilian award- Padma Bhushan.
The Awards are given in various disciplines and fields of activities, viz- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service and many more.
This year 112 personalities received the honour, out of which 56 personalities were given away the honour on March 11 and the rest were accorded with the awards on Saturday.
Other Sports personalities who have received this prestigious award on March 11 were: Harika Dronavalli, chess player; Sharath Kamal, table tennis player; Bajrang Punia, freestyle wrestler and Ajay Thakur, captain of Indian Kabaddi team.
(With ANI Inputs)
