Padma Awards 2026: President Murmu confers honors on sports personalities
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Awards 2026 on several sports personalities during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on June 23, 2026. Among the recipients were veteran hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, late Akhada exponent Bhagwandas Raikwar, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, and former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma.
Savita Punia received the Padma Shri for her outstanding contribution to Indian hockey. In 2025, she became only the second Indian goalkeeper, after PR Sreejesh, to reach 300 international caps, highlighting her remarkable longevity and consistency. She played a pivotal role in India's historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a landmark campaign that elevated the stature of Indian women's hockey globally. Her experience was also invaluable in qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics for the first time in 36 years and in the 2018 Hockey Women's World Cup, where India reached the quarter-finals.
Posthumous Padma Shri for Bhagwandas Raikwar
Bhagwandas Raikwar was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for bringing international recognition to 'Akhada', the traditional wrestling and martial arts form of Bundelkhand, described as the most ancient weapon-based art form of the region. His son, Rajkumar Raikwar, received the award from President Murmu at the ceremony.
Vijay Amritraj, the tennis legend, was conferred the Padma Bhushan. He peaked at world No. 18 in singles and No. 23 in doubles, winning 13 doubles and 15 singles titles over a career spanning more than two decades.
Rohit Sharma and Vladimir Mestvirishvili honored
Former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma was awarded the Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution to cricket. Under his leadership, India's men's team won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados and the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai.
Vladimir Mestvirishvili, a foreign coach, was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to sports as a coach, becoming the first foreign coach to receive a Padma award.
Padma Awards 2026 ceremony details
During the second Civil Investiture Ceremony on June 23, a total of 65 Padma Awards were presented, including two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards. The first Civil Investiture Ceremony for the Padma Awards 2026 was held on May 26, during which 66 Padma Awards were conferred.
