The name of ace Indian boxer Mary Kom, has been recommended by Sports Ministry for Padma Vibhushan award, according to reports. This is the first time a woman athlete’s name has been put forward by Sports Ministry for the country’s second highest civilian honour after Bharat Ratna.
Apart from the six-time world champion, who has earlier won Padma Shri (2006) and Padma Bhushan (2013), eight other female athletes are also being considered for Padma Awards.
P.V. Sindhu, who became the first Indian to win world championships in August, has also been suggested for the Padma Bhushan award, country’s third highest civilian award. She had got the Padma Shri in 2015.
The names of wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Indian women’s cricket team T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur, women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal, shooter Suma Shirur, ace peddler Manika Batra and mountaineer twin sisters, Tashi and Nungshi Malik have been recommended for Padma Shri Award.
This is the first time that all the nine athletes recommended by Sports Ministry this time are women.
The recommendations have been submitted to Padma awards committee in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the names of the select awardees will be announced on the eve of the Republic Day next year.