Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, was honored with the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at a Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. This recognition followed a significant year for Indian women’s cricket, during which Kaur led the national team to its inaugural ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title on home soil in 2025, securing a historic victory against South Africa in the final at Navi Mumbai.
This achievement positioned her as the first Indian captain to secure a Women’s World Cup victory, and notably, the second Indian skipper overall to win a World Cup hosted domestically, succeeding MS Dhoni.
Her international career encompasses 164 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India, where she has accumulated 4,541 runs at an average of 37.22, comprising 7 centuries and 24 half-centuries. In Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), she has recorded 3,991 runs across 195 matches, including one century and 16 half-centuries.
Within the longest format of the game, Test cricket, Kaur has participated in 7 matches, contributing 230 runs with an average of 23.00, which includes one half-century.
Praveen Kumar, Baldev Singh, K. Pajanivel Honoured
Praveen Kumar, a Paralympic gold medallist in high jump, also received the Padma Shri. This honor acknowledges his significant contributions to sports, particularly following his notable ascent within international para athletics, where he holds the distinction of being the world’s top-ranked para high jumper.
Diagnosed with a physical disability at birth, Praveen Kumar initially secured a silver medal in the men’s high jump T64 category at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021. Subsequently, he achieved a gold medal at the Paris Paralympic Games, establishing a personal best jump of 2.08 meters.
The commendable performance in Tokyo resulted in his receiving the Arjuna Award in 2021. His subsequent victory in Paris was further acknowledged with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in January 2025.
Born in 2003, Praveen initially pursued volleyball during his schooling years before transitioning to high jump. His instructor initially expressed reservations regarding his participation due to concerns about potential injury stemming from his leg condition. Nevertheless, Praveen proceeded to compete in the able-bodied category, where he secured a gold medal.
Additionally, veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh and K. Pajanivel, a distinguished exponent of Silambam, were awarded the Padma Shri on Monday. This honor recognizes their exceptional contributions to sports and traditional martial arts, respectively.
Baldev Singh, acknowledged as a pivotal figure in Indian women’s hockey, played a transformative role in establishing Shahabad Markanda in Haryana as a significant center for developing women’s hockey talent.
Under his leadership, the academy has fostered the development of over 80 international players across the last two decades, with eight of these individuals subsequently assuming captaincy of the Indian women’s hockey team.
Notable players, such as former India captain Rani Rampal, former drag-flick specialist Sandeep Singh, Didar Singh, Sanjeev Kumar Dang, Harpal Singh, and Navjot Kaur, are among the individuals who trained at his academy.
Beyond his direct contributions to athletic development, Baldev Singh is also recognized for enabling players from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to establish successful careers through hockey.
In acknowledgement of his extensive contributions to coaching and player development, he had previously been honored with the Dronacharya Award in 2009 and the Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable Contribution during the 2015-16 period.
Concurrently, K. Pajanivel, a Silambam exponent originating from Puducherry, received the Padma Shri for his dedicated efforts in preserving and advancing Silambam, an ancient Tamil martial art.
Born on January 30, 1973, in Pooranankuppam, Pajanivel commenced his Silambam training under Master Rajaram. Subsequently, he devoted several decades to promoting this traditional martial art both within India and internationally.
His work includes providing free training to numerous students and showcasing Silambam through demonstrations, performances, and participation in competitions at both national and international levels.
Silambam, an ancient weapon-based martial art estimated to be more than 5,000 years old, characteristically employs a bamboo staff and is distinguished by its emphasis on speed, precision, and fluid footwork.
Previously, Pajanivel was a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Martial Arts in 2023. His other accolades comprise the Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Puducherry in 2012, the Best Youth Award from Nehru Yuva Kendra in 2004, and the Silambam International Award in 2002.
