P R Sreejesh Honored with Padma Bhushan; R Ashwin, I M Vijayan, Harvinder Singh Among Padma Shri Awardees

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Former Indian men's hockey captain P R Sreejesh has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, while cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin, football legend I M Vijayan, and Paralympic gold medalist Harvinder Singh have been named for the Padma Shri.

Additionally, para-athletics coach Satyapal Singh, known for mentoring high-jumper Praveen Kumar, is also among the Padma Shri recipients. These awards were announced by President Droupadi Murmu as part of the prestigious civilian honors list on the eve of India's 76th Republic Day.

The 36-year-old P R Sreejesh, considered one of the finest hockey goalkeepers of all time, played a crucial role in India's Olympic resurgence. He has represented India in 336 international matches over an 18-year career.

Sreejesh contributed to two Asian Games gold medals and back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, including the one in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has now transitioned into the role of head coach for the junior men's hockey team. The Padma Bhushan is India's third-highest civilian honor, following the Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan.

Padma Shri Awardees

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently retired from international cricket, has been honored with the Padma Shri. The 38-year-old veteran took 537 wickets in 106 Test matches, making him India's second-highest wicket-taker in the format. Ashwin was a key member of India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad and the 2013 Champions Trophy-winning team. He continues to play in domestic tournaments and the IPL.

Indian football icon I M Vijayan, known for his prolific goal-scoring, has also been selected for the Padma Shri. The Kerala-born striker, nicknamed the 'Black Buck,' scored 40 goals in 79 matches for the national team and captained India from 2000 to 2004. Vijayan's club career saw him play for teams like Mohun Bagan, JCT Phagwara, and Kerala Police. He joins a prestigious list of Indian footballers who have received this honor.

Harvinder Singh, India's first Paralympic gold medalist in archery, is another Padma Shri awardee. Overcoming physical challenges from an early age, Singh secured gold in the Paris Paralympics and previously won bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics. His father transformed their farm into an archery range during the COVID-19 lockdown to support his training.

Para-athletics coach Satyapal Singh, who mentored Praveen Kumar to Paralympic gold, expressed gratitude for the honor, crediting his student for his success. Singh has been associated with Kumar since 2018 and was instrumental in shaping his journey. This year, a total of 139 individuals have been named for the Padma awards, including seven for Padma Vibhushan, 19 for Padma Bhushan, and 113 for Padma Shri.