Rohan Bopanna, Joshna Chinappa among athletes shortlisted for Padma Shri award, check full list

Published at :January 26, 2024 at 1:40 PM

Modified at :January 26, 2024 at 2:18 PM

(Courtesy : IANS/ Twitter)

Eight athletes were shortlisted for Padma Shri

The government has chosen eight athletes for the Padma Shri award, one of the highest civilian honors in India. The Padma Shri is given for distinguished service in any field and is the fourth highest honor after Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan.

Among the eight athletes are tennis star Rohan Bopanna and veteran squash player Joshna Chinappa. Bopanna, who is 43, has become the world number one in the doubles format and the oldest player to achieve this feat. He is also the fourth Indian to win a Grand Slam trophy, a mixed doubles title he won with Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski at the French Open in 2017.

Bopanna, also known as ‘Bops’, turned professional in 2003 after playing singles and doubles at the junior and senior ITF levels. He became famous worldwide for his men’s doubles partnership with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. The duo, nicknamed the ‘Indo-Pak Express’, won five ATP doubles titles and reached the final of the 2010 US Open.

Bopanna has also been a runner-up in the ATP World Tour Finals in 2012 and 2015, and represented India in two Olympic Games, reaching the mixed doubles semifinal in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Joshna is 37 years old and has been a consistent medal winner for India in squash. She has won multiple medals at the Asian Games and is a two-time CWG medallist. She has also won four medals at the World Championships in doubles, including a gold in 2022.

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Full list of players shortlisted for Padma Shri

Rohan Bopanna – Tennis
Joshna Chinappa – Squash
Harbinder Singh – Hockey
Purnima Mahato – Archery
Satendra Singh Lohia – Para Swimming
Gaurav Khanna – Para-Badminton
Uday Vishwanath Deshpande – Mallakhamb
Uday Deshpande – Mallakhamb

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