Padma Awards 2026 Celebrate Sporting Legends

The Padma Awards 2026 celebrated remarkable contributions to Indian sports, honoring icons like Savita Punia, who achieved 300 international caps, and Vijay Amritraj, a tennis legend. The ceremony, presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, also recognized Rohit Sharma for his leadership in cricket. This year's awards highlight the achievements of athletes and coaches who have significantly impacted Indian sports, with a total of 65 awards presented during the ceremonies. Discover more about these inspiring figures and their legacies in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 23, 2026, 20:24 IST

Recognition for Sports Icons at Padma Awards

The Padma Shri has been awarded to veteran hockey player Savita Punia and the late Bhagwandas Raikwar for their exceptional contributions to Indian sports. Raikwar received the honor posthumously for his role in elevating 'Akhada' (traditional wrestling/martial arts), a historic weapon-based art form from Bundelkhand. His son, Rajkumar Raikwar, accepted the award from President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday evening.

Honors for Tennis and Coaching

Tennis icon Vijay Amritraj was honored with the Padma Bhushan, while Vladimir Mestvirishvili received the Padma Shri posthumously for his contributions as a coach, marking him as the first foreign coach to be recognized with a Padma award.

Savita Punia's Remarkable Journey

In 2025, Savita Punia became only the second Indian goalkeeper, following PR Sreejesh, to achieve 300 international caps, showcasing her impressive longevity and consistency at the elite level. She played a crucial role in India's historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a campaign that significantly raised the profile of Indian women's hockey globally. Her expertise was also vital in securing qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympics after a 36-year hiatus and reaching the Quarter-Finals of the 2018 Hockey Women's World Cup.

Vijay Amritraj's Tennis Achievements

Amritraj reached career-high rankings of 18 in singles and 23 in doubles, amassing a total of 13 doubles and 15 singles titles throughout his extensive tennis career, which spanned over two decades.

Rohit Sharma's Cricketing Contributions

Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has also been awarded the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to Indian cricket over the years. Under his leadership, the Indian men's team secured the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title in Barbados and the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai.

Details of the Padma Awards 2026 Ceremony

The Padma Awards 2026 are being presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The second Civil Investiture Ceremony on June 23 will see a total of 65 Padma Awards awarded, including two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards.

The first Civil Investiture Ceremony for the Padma Awards 2026 took place on May 26, during which 66 Padma Awards were presented.