Padma Awards 2024: Rohan Bopanna, Joshna Chinnappa conferred with Padma Shri

Rohan Bopanna recently made record by becoming oldest world No 1 in men's doubles tennis. PTI

Rohan Bopanna, who on Thursday became the oldest player to reach men’s doubles No 1 position, has been chosen by the Indian government to receive the prestigious Padma Shri accolade alongside six other athletes. Apart from Bopanna, squash legend Joshna Chinappa will also receive the Padma Shri. The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, after the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.

Padma Shri is awarded for extraordinary contributions in different fields of life.

Bopanna, who is 43, is set to become the No 1 player in men’s doubles when the rankings will be updated next week. The Indian achieved the accolade when along with his Australian partner Matthew Ebden, he propelled into the semi-finals of the Australian Open. They defeated the Argentinian duo of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 6-4, 7-6.

Joshna Chinappa, 37, has won multiple medals for India the Asian Games and also has two Commonwealth Games medals and four World Championships doubles medals, including a gold in 2022, to her name.

Five more Indians will be conferred with the Padma Shri award including hockey player Harbinder Singh, Mallakhmab practitioner Uday Deshpande, archer Purima Mahtao, para badminton coach Gaurav Khanna and para swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia.

The full list of the Padma Shri award winners in sports category:

Harbinder Singh (Hockey, Coach)
Purnima Mahato (Archery, former athlete)
Satendra Singh Lohia (Swimming, athlete)
Gaurav Khanna (Badminton, Coach)
Uday Vishwanath Deshpande (Mallakhamba, Coach)
Joshna Chinappa (Squash, athlete)
Rohan Machanda Bopanna (Tennis, athlete)