Indian squash player Joshna Chinappa was bestowed with the highly prestigious Padma Shri award at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.
Chinappa, who was part of the bronze medal-winning women’s team at the Asian Games last year was among the list of seven sports personalities named by the government earlier to be conferred with the fourth-highest civilian award- Padma Shri, for their distinguished services in the field of sports.
Chinappa has won a total of five Asian Games medals, including silvers in the 2014 and 2018 editions, as well as claiming gold in the doubles event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Expressing her joy and gratitude after receiving the honor, Chinappa reflected on her journey, which began at the age of nine with a dream to represent India. She expressed pride in being recognized for her dedication to the sport and thanked the Central Government for acknowledging her contribution to Indian squash.
Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, an international Mallakhamb coach, was also conferred with the Padma Shri. Deshpande, who has devoted over 60 years to promoting Mallakhamb, emphasized the need to globalize this traditional Indian sport. Mallakhamb, known for its aerial and gymnastic stunts on a vertical pole, holds immense cultural significance and offers numerous physical and mental benefits, according to Deshpande.
In a bid to carry Mallakhamb to the world stage, Deshpande stressed the importance of showcasing its unique heritage and the comprehensive workout it offers to all parts of the body.
The list of other notable sports personalities to be conferred with the Padma Awards 2024 include- Rohan Bopanna, Harbinder Singh, Satendra Singh Lohia, Purnima Mahato and Gaurav Khanna.