India’s cricket powerhouses Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur lead the sports category in the 2026 Padma Awards, both receiving Padma Shri for their World Cup-winning captaincies. The list, greenlit by the President, totals 131 awards across categories.
Rohit’s masterminding of the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph and Harmanpreet’s 2025 ODI World Cup conquest have redefined success for Indian teams. These honors affirm their roles as transformative leaders.
The athlete roll call extends to traditional sports: Bundelkhand’s Bhagwan Das Raikwar, trainer of 1,000+ warriors in regional martial arts; K. Pajni Vel, champion of Puducherry’s Silambam; and hockey coach Baldev Singh with his 50+ protégés reaching international levels.
Savita Punia and Praveen Kumar represent hockey excellence, while Vladimir Mestvirishvili earns a posthumous nod for two decades of wrestling coaching that yielded Olympic gold.
Elevated to Padma Bhushan, Vijay Amritraj recalls India’s tennis golden era—Davis Cup finals, victories over Borg, and 2024 Hall of Fame entry. His story bridges generations.
Comprising 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Bhushan, and 113 Shri, the list honors 19 women, 6 overseas Indians, and 16 late luminaries. It’s a testament to India’s vibrant talent pool.