Courtesy: BCCI

Courtesy: BCCI

Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian cricketer, has been conferred with the fourth-highest civilian award Padma Shri after being chosen as one of the four recipients by President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of the 76th Republic Day. After being an integral part of the Indian cricket team for the better part of 14 years, Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket during India’s tour to Australia last year.

Notably, during his illustrious career, Ravichandran Ashwin played 287 matches for the Indian cricket team, scoring over 4,000 runs and picking up more than 700 wickets. With his insane consistency, especially in the longest format of the game, picking up 537 wickets in 106 Tests at an average of 24.00, including 37 five-wicket hauls, Ravichandran Ashwin got widely regarded as one of the best off spinners, not only of his generation, but also of all-time.

Apart from Ravichandran Ashwin, the legendary Indian footballer IM Vijayan, the first Paralympic gold medal-winning archer from the country, Harvinder Singh, along with Satyapal Singh, the Para-athletics coach, who helped high jumper Praveen Kumar to a gold medal in Paris Paralympics 2024, have also been awarded the Padma Shri from the field of sports. The 38-year-old is still active as far as professional cricket is concerned, getting signed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the upcoming 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

PR Sreejesh conferred with India's third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan

Moreover, PR Sreejesh, the former Indian hockey goal-keeper, who was a part of the national team winning two consecutive bronze medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, has been conferred with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour in the country. Following his retirement from hockey after the Paris Olympics last year, the 36-year-old is currently the head coach of the Indian junior men’s hockey team, apart from being a part of the Hockey India League (HIL) as the Director of Hockey of the Delhi SG Pipers men’s and women’s teams apart from being an assistant coach of the men’s side.

Moreover, there are a total of seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, 113 Padma Shri awardees from various fields in India this year.