PR Sreejesh, R Ashwin honoured with Padma Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan: WATCH

Pic: Screengrab/ANI/X

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and legendary hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh were conferred with the prestigious Padma awards by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on April 28. The star-studded ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

While Ashwin was honoured with the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honours, PR Sreejesh, who announced his retirement last year, was conferred with the Padma Bhushan.

Sreejesh played a pivotal role in India's historic back-to-back Olympic medals in men's hockey, leading from the front at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and delivering an outstanding performance during his final Olympic appearance in Paris.

On the ceremonial day, Sreejesh made a notable impression by donning a traditional silk shirt and mundu as he received the award from President Murmu, with his family proudly cheering him on from the audience. Ashwin, meanwhile, appeared in a smart navy blue two-piece suit and was seen greeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah before stepping forward to accept his award.

Ashwin, widely regarded as one of the finest spinners in Indian cricket history, announced his retirement from international cricket last year after India's Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He is currently playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

In addition to Ashwin and Sreejesh, several other notable athletes were honoured. Former footballer IM Vijayan and Paralympian Harvinder Singh, who won gold in archery at the Paris Paralympics, were both awarded the Padma Shri. Renowned para-athletics coach Satyapal Singh was also conferred with the Padma Shri. These accolades were announced earlier on January 25, on the eve of Republic Day.

The Padma Awards, among India's most esteemed civilian honours, are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards recognise exemplary achievements across a range of fields, including the arts, public affairs, science and technology, commerce, literature, medicine, and social service. In the order of precedence, the Padma Shri is ranked as the fourth-highest civilian award, following the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan.