The Indian government honoured India’s Olympians and Paralympians with Padma awards. Many stars including Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, Hockey star Vandana Katariaya and several Tokyo Paralympians have been conferred with the Padma awards for their exceptional contribution in the field of sports in India.
Para javelin thrower Devendra Jhajaria who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award for his great contribution to para-sports. The silver in Tokyo was his third medal overall at the Paralympics after winning gold in Athens and also in Rio back in 2016.
History maker Neeraj Chopra who won India’s first Olympics gold medal in athletics was conferred with the Padma Shri award for his contribution. Similarly, Paralympian Sumit Antil who also won the gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in the Javelin Throw F64 event was also honoured with the Padma Shri award. Along with Antil, para-shuttler Pramod Bhagat who won the gold medal was also honoured with the Padma Shri award.
Indian Women’s hockey team were exceptional at the Tokyo Olympics as they held their own against some of the top
teams. Vandana Katariya who scored the much important hattrick for the Indian Eves against South Africa is considered as the turning point in their campaign as they went on to finish fourth in the tournament. Vandana’s sensational service for India was honoured with the Padma Shri award.
Then para shooter Avani Lekhara who won two medals at the Tokyo Paralympics was the talk of the town for the Indian sports lovers. Lekhara’s journey till here has been very rough but still, she managed to back herself and win a gold medal at the Women’s 10m standing air rifle and the bronze medal in the Women’s 50m 3 positions event was conferred with the Padma Shri at the age of 20. Lekhara will be looking at this award as a milestone that will only spur her forward to achieve more feats in para-shooting.
Other notable winners of the Padma Shri from the field of sports are Sankaranarayana Menon Chundayil, Faisal Ali Dar and former Indian football team captain and legendary goalkeeper Brahmananad Sankhhwalkar.
