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

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

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)