Sun Jan 26 01:05:32 UTC 2025: **Five Sports Stars Honored with Padma Awards**

NEW DELHI, INDIA – January 25, 2025 – Five Indian sports figures have been recognized with prestigious Padma Awards, announced today by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu. The awards, part of a larger list of 139 Padma Awards (7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri), celebrate exceptional achievements across various fields.

Among the honorees, hockey legend PR Sreejesh received the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award. Sreejesh, currently the head coach of the Indian men’s junior hockey team, is celebrated for his pivotal role in securing back-to-back bronze medals at the Tokyo (2021) and Paris (2024) Olympics. His impressive accolades also include three FIH Goalkeeper of the Year awards and gold medals at the 2014 and 2022 Asian Games.

Four other sports personalities received the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award:

* **Harvinder Singh:** The para-archer secured India’s first-ever Paralympic gold medal in archery at the Paris 2024 Games, adding to his bronze medal from Tokyo 2020.
* **Ravichandran Ashwin:** The recently retired cricketer boasts a remarkable career, amassing 765 international wickets across all formats, placing him second among Indian bowlers. He was part of the World Cup-winning teams of 2011 and 2013.
* **I.M. Vijayan:** A former Indian football striker, Vijayan played 72 international matches, scoring 29 goals and captaining the national team from 2000 to 2004.
* **Satyapal Singh:** A prominent para-athletics coach, Singh has played a significant role in India’s Paralympic success, notably guiding athlete Praveen Kumar to multiple Paralympic medals.

The Padma Awards are a testament to the outstanding contributions of these athletes to Indian sports and national pride.

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