Ace shuttler Kidambi Srikanth, tennis player Somdev Devvarman receive Padma Awards

President Ram Nath Kovind awarded Padma Awards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. 

Tennis player Somdev Devvarman, Indian badminton star Kidambi Srikanth, and 1972 Paralympics gold medalist swimmer Murlikant Petkar were among the attendees. 

#PresidentKovind presents Padma Shri to Shri Murlikant Rajaram Petkar. A 1965 war hero, he went on to become India's first Paralympic gold medalist in the 1972 Germany Paralympics, setting a world record in the freestyle swimming event pic.twitter.com/BoeYO5WxpQ

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 20, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Padma Shri to Shri Somdev Kishore Devvarman in the field of Sports. He has won multiple gold medals in the Asian and Commonwealth Games pic.twitter.com/enAD4tXj4O

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 20, 2018

राष्ट्रपति कोविन्द ने श्री किदाम्बी श्रीकांत को पद्म श्री प्रदान किया। वह ग्रां प्री गोल्ड, सुपर सीरीज और सुपर सीरीज प्रीमियम खिताबों के रूप में तीनों स्वर्ण पदक जीतने वाले भारत के पहले बैडमिंटन खिलाड़ी हैं। pic.twitter.com/YtqjqZppPV

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 20, 2018

This year 85 recipients were selected for the prestigious awards including two duo cases. This includes 3 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan and 73 Padma Shri awards. Fourteen of the awardees are women, while 16 persons are foreigners and three are being awarded posthumous.

Former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and brilliant cueist Pankaj Advani were awarded Padma Bhushan, but both the players were a no show. Weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu who was awarded Padma Shri was also not present.

The government announced names of the recipients on the eve of the 69th Republic Day, which included Music maestro Ilaiyaraja and cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni. 

While Ilaiyaraja is among the three Padma Vibhushan awardees, the former India captain is among the nine Padma Bhushan recipients. Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan are the second and third highest civilian awards of the country respectively.

(With ANI Inputs)