Tennis Star Rohan Bopanna, Squash Player Joshna Chinappa Selected for Padma Shri

Tennis star Rohan Bopanna and squash player Joshna Chinappa were among the seven athletes selected for the prestigious Padma Shri honour by the Indian government. Bopanna, who is set to become the world number one in doubles, has been a consistent performer and will be the oldest world number one when the new rankings are issued on Monday. Chinappa, a 37-year-old, has won multiple medals at the Asian Games and is a two-time CWG medallist.

New Delhi, January 25: Tennis star Rohan Bopanna, who is set to become the world number one in doubles, has been selected for the prestigious Padma Shri honor by the Indian government. The Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian honor in the country, after the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan. It is conferred to individuals for their distinguished service in any field.

Bopanna's Achievements

Bopanna has been a consistent performer in the world of tennis and will become the oldest world number one when the new rankings are released on Monday. He has the opportunity to win his first-ever men's doubles major title on Saturday when he takes the court with his partner Matthew Ebden in the Australian Open final. Bopanna, at the age of 43, is only the fourth Indian to win a Grand Slam trophy, having won the mixed doubles title with Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski at the French Open in 2017.

Other Honored Athletes

In addition to Bopanna, six other athletes have been selected for the Padma Shri honor. These include veteran squash player Joshna Chinappa, hockey player Harbinder Singh, Mallakhmab practitioner Uday Deshpande, archer Purima Mahtao, para badminton coach Gaurav Khanna, and para swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia.

Recognition for Contributions to Indian Sports

The Padma Shri awards recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of these athletes to Indian sports. Joshna Chinappa, at the age of 37, has won multiple medals at the Asian Games and is a two-time Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalist. She has also won four medals at the World Championships in doubles, including a gold in 2022.

Purima Mahtao, the 1998 CWG silver medalist, has also served as the coach of the Indian archery team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Gaurav Khanna has made significant contributions as a para badminton coach, while Satendra Singh Lohia has excelled as a para swimmer.

The selection of Rohan Bopanna and other athletes for the Padma Shri honor is a well-deserved recognition of their dedication, hard work, and achievements in their respective sports. Their contributions have brought glory to India and inspired countless individuals to pursue excellence in sports.