Indian tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna has recently received the prestigious Padma Shri award, which is considered the country’s fourth-highest civilian honor. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award during a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
Bopanna has been making waves in the tennis circuit lately. He claimed the Miami Open men’s doubles title in March with Australian partner Matthew Ebden.
Prior to that triumph, Bopanna clinched his second career Grand Slam title with a victory at the Australian Open. At 43 years and 329 days old, he became the oldest player ever to win a Grand Slam title. Moreover, he is the third Indian man in the Open Era to win a Major men’s doubles title, following in the footsteps of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.
In the 2023 Asian Games, Bopanna teamed up with Rutuja Bhosale to secure a gold medal in the tennis mixed doubles event. As the Paris Olympics 2024 approaches, the veteran player is brimming with confidence.
Other athletes awarded the Padma Shri include para-swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia and former Indian hockey player Harbinder Singh, who is also an international-level coach. Harbinder has an impressive track record, having won gold at the 1964 Olympics and bronze medals at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. Additionally, archery coach Purmina Mohanto was honored with the Padma Shri award, recognizing her significant contributions to Indian archery.
