India's sporting excellence received national recognition with several prominent athletes and coaches featuring in the Padma Awards 2026 list, announced on Sunday, January 25.
The honours celebrated contributions across multiple disciplines, reflecting both individual brilliance and long-term impact on Indian sport.
Veteran tennis icon Vijay Amritraj was conferred the Padma Bhushan, making him the only sportsperson to receive the honour this year. A pioneer who helped put Indian tennis on the global map, Amritraj enjoyed notable success on the international circuit, including quarterfinal appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open. His legacy has been acknowledged earlier as well, with the Arjuna Award in 1974 and the Padma Shri in 1983, underscoring
decades of influence on Indian tennis.
Among the Padma Shri recipients were Indian cricket stalwart Rohit Sharma and women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Rohit, who stepped away from Test cricket in 2025, continues to be a key figure in India's ODI setup and scored 650 runs in the format last year.
Now focused primarily on limited-overs cricket, he also represents Mumbai in domestic tournaments and features in the Indian Premier League. Harmanpreet's leadership reached a defining peak in 2025, when she guided the Indian women's team to a historic World Cup triumph on home soil.
The Padma Shri list also included former India pacer Praveen Kumar and Indian women's hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, along with Baldev Singh, Bhagwandas Raikwar and K Pajanivel. Baldev Singh, widely credited with transforming women's hockey in India, was recognised for his pioneering coaching work. Former wrestling coach Vladimer Mestvirishvili was honoured posthumously for his enduring contribution to the sport.
Overall, the Padma Awards 2026 recognised 131 individuals across three categories-five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri-spanning fields such as sports, arts, literature, cinema and public service. The inclusion of athletes and mentors in the list highlights the growing stature of Indian sport and honours those who have inspired generations through performance, leadership and dedication.
Padma Awards 2026 - Sportspersons Honoured
- Vijay Amritraj - Padma Bhushan
- Rohit Sharma - Padma Shri
- Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar - Padma Shri
- Praveen Kumar - Padma Shri
- Savita Punia - Padma Shri
- Baldev Singh - Padma Shri
- Bhagwandas Raikwar - Padma Shri
- K Pajanivel - Padma Shri
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