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Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna has been conferred with the honour of Padma Shri as the prestigious Padma awards list was released on Thursday, January 25. Bopanna is currently playing in the Australian Open where he qualified for his maiden final at the year's first Grand Slam.
Also Read: Rohan Bopanna enters maiden Australian Open men's doubles final
The accolades continue for Bopanna as the Coorg-born tennis ace became the oldest World No. 1 men's doubles player with his partner Matthew Ebden. The Indo-Australian duo will face the Italian pair of Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli in the AO24 final on January 27.
Rohan Bopanna receives Padma Shri award
Alongside Bopanna and Chinappa, eight other contributors from the field of sports will have been conferred with the Padma Shri award. The recipients from sports are Shri Harbinder Singh (Hockey, Coach), Ms. Purnima Mahato (Archery, former athlete), Shri Satendra Singh Lohia (Swimming, athlete), Shri Gaurav Khanna (Badminton, Coach), Shri Uday Vishwanath Deshpande (Mallakhamba, Coach), Ms. Joshna Chinappa (Squash, athlete), Shri Rohan Machanda Bopanna (Tennis, athlete).
Playing one of my best tennis in couple of decades: Rohan Bopanna
After becoming the World No. 1, Rohan Bopanna expressed that he has been playing some of the best tennis of his career over this recent period. Speaking on Extraaa Serve following the triumph, Bopanna said, "Extremely happy to be playing tennis, especially playing it pain-free."
"Playing as the World No. 1 I was playing freely and completely enjoying myself out on the court. Overall, I am enjoying myself being where I am today and playing one of my best tennis in couple of decades,” Bopanna added.
