Padma Awards 2026 Honour PR Sreejesh, R Ashwin and Harvinder Singh for Sporting Excellence

India's sporting landscape took centre stage ahead of the 76th Republic Day as several leading athletes from different disciplines were named in the Padma awards list, one of the country's highest civilian honours. From cricket and hockey to football and para-archery, the selections underline the growing breadth and depth of Indian sport.

Veteran hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was awarded the Padma Bhushan, recognising a career that spanned more than a decade at the international level. Sreejesh, who retired after the Paris 2024 Olympics, played a key role in India's bronze-medal finish, adding to a long list of achievements that include Asian Games gold, Commonwealth Games silver and consistent podium finishes across major tournaments since his debut in 2010.

Among those receiving the Padma Shri is former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, whose Test career stands as one of the most influential in modern Indian cricket. Ashwin, who concluded his Test journey during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, claimed 537 wickets in 106 matches, placing him among the leading wicket-takers in the history of the format. His contributions with the bat, including six centuries, further cement his reputation as a complete cricketer.

Para-archer Harvinder Singh was also honoured with the Padma Shri after scripting history at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where he won India's first-ever gold medal in para-archery. His earlier bronze at the Tokyo Games had already marked a breakthrough, making his back-to-back Paralympic podium finishes a standout achievement.

The Padma Shri list also includes former India football captain Inivalappil Mani Vijayan, whose leadership and goal-scoring prowess helped India clinch SAFF Championship titles in the 1990s, and coach Satyapal Singh, recognised for his long-term contribution to Indian sport.

Together, the honours reflect not just medals and statistics, but lasting influence-celebrating athletes and mentors who shaped India's sporting identity across generations.