7 players including Rohan Bopanna nominated for Padma Shri Award 2024

A total of seven players, including India's star tennis player and World No. 1 Rohan Bopanna, squash player Joshna Chinappa, and former archer turned coach Purnima Mahato have been shortlisted for the Padma Awards for 2024.

Also Read: World No. 1 Rohan Bopanna reaches Australian Open final for the first time in Men's doubles

Of these, 5 will be given Padma Vibhushan, 17 will be given Padma Bhushan and 110 personalities will be given Padma Shri Award. Seven of the 110 celebrities are sportspersons. These awards are given by the President of India . The ceremony takes place every year in March or April at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Rohan Bopanna in the final of Australian Open

43 year old Rohan Bopanna is in Australia these days. He is participating in the Men's Doubles category of Australian Open. He and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have reached the final. The final match will be played tomorrow i.e. on 27th January. When the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings are updated, Bopanna will become the world number-1 men's doubles player at the age of 43. With this, he will be the oldest player in the world to achieve number-1 rank.

Also Read: 43-year-old Rohan Bopanna becomes oldest World No.1 doubles player after remarkable run to Australian Open semifinals

Joshna Chinappa won gold medal in Commonwealth Games

Joshna Chinappa has won one gold (2014) and one silver (2018) medal in the Commonwealth Games. She has won two silver and three bronze medals in the Asian Games. Joshna has also won four medals in the World Championships in doubles, including a gold medal in 2022.

On the other hand, Purnima Mahato, a former national champion turned coach, has left an indelible mark on Indian archery. Widely recognized for coaching Deepika Kumari, one of India's best archers, Mahato's contributions have earned her the esteemed Dronacharya Award.

Other players nominated for Padma Shri Award

Other esteemed athletes shortlisted for the Padma Shri Award include former hockey player Harbinder Singh, para badminton coach Gaurav Khanna, para swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia, and Mallakhamb athlete Uday Deshpande.

• Hockey player Harbinder Singh represented the Indian hockey team in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics.

• Uday Deshpande is associated with Mallakhamb.

• Gaurav Khanna is a para badminton coach, who has coached players like Pramod Bhagat. Para swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia is one such athlete who will be awarded the Padma Award for his achievements and contribution to Indian sports.