Savita Punia Honored with Padma Shri Award for Hockey Excellence
In a heartwarming development from Bhubaneswar, Indian women's hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia received a magnificent surprise on Sunday when she learned she would be conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award this year. This recognition comes after a challenging previous year for the athlete, making the announcement particularly meaningful.
Emotional Reaction and Family Dedication
Savita Punia, who holds an impressive 308 international caps for India, described feeling both "excited and nervous" upon hearing the news. She immediately dedicated this honor to her father, Mahender Punia, who has been her steadfast supporter throughout her hockey journey. "I don't know how to express myself because it's a matter of huge pride for me and my family," the goalkeeper shared, also extending gratitude to Hockey India for their consistent backing.
Currently immersed in training at the national camp in Bengaluru under new coach Sjoerd Marijne, Savita had completely forgotten about the Padma Awards announcement, which traditionally occurs a day before Republic Day. This oversight made the revelation even more special and unexpected for the dedicated athlete.
Team Recognition Over Individual Achievement
Despite receiving an individual honor, Savita Punia emphasized that the award represents recognition for the entire Indian women's hockey team. "I know it's an individual award, but for me it's a team award. I may have got the award but more importantly, the Indian women's hockey team has been recognized," stated the former team captain.
Born in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan and trained in Hisar, Haryana, Savita believes this honor will serve as significant motivation following recent challenges in Indian women's hockey. With the World Cup Qualifiers approaching in March, she views this recognition as an excellent start to the competitive year ahead.
Inspiration for Future Generations
As only the second Indian woman hockey player to achieve 300 international matches alongside Vandana Katariya, Savita Punia hopes her Padma Shri will inspire younger teammates to pursue excellence with renewed determination. She expressed optimism that this recognition would encourage aspiring athletes to work harder toward similar achievements in the future.
The hockey star looks forward to the team delivering memorable performances throughout the year as they prepare for important tournaments including the Asian Games and World Cup Qualifiers.
Complete List of Sports Padma Awardees 2026
The Indian government announced nine sportspersons as Padma Award recipients for 2026, including:
- Vijay Amritraj (Tennis) - Padma Bhushan
- Baldev Singh (Hockey) - Padma Shri
- Bhagwandas Raikwar (Bundeli war art trainer) - Padma Shri
- Harmanpreet Kaur (Cricket) - Padma Shri
- K Pajanivel (Silambam coach) - Padma Shri
- Praveen K (Para high jumper) - Padma Shri
- Rohit Sharma (Cricket) - Padma Shri
- Savita Punia (Hockey) - Padma Shri
- Vladimir Mestvirishvili (Wrestling) - Padma Shri (Posthumous)
Notably, World Cup-winning cricket captains Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur were among the distinguished athletes recognized alongside Savita Punia in this year's honors list.
