Indian squash player Joshna Chinappa was awarded the Padma Shri in the sports category by President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. Chinappa, a prominent squash player, clinched the Asian Games bronze in Hangzhou last year alongside Tanvi Khanna and Anahat Singh in a team competition.
With five Asian Games medals to her name, including silver in team events at the 2014 and 2018 editions, Joshna Chinappa is also a two-time Commonwealth Games medalist, securing gold in the 2014 Glasgow edition in the doubles event. Additionally, Padma Shri was conferred upon Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, a distinguished Indian Mallakhamb coach renowned at the international level.
“President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Shri in the field of Sports to Shri Uday Vishwanath Deshpande. He has been working to transform Mallakhamb from a local tradition to a globally recognised sport. Shri Deshpande has been instrumental in starting Mallakhamb centres across the country and developing standard pedagogy and instructions for Mallakhamb,” Rashtrapati Bhavan posted on X.
The 70-year-old has dedicated extensive efforts to promoting the game globally. In this traditional Indian subcontinent sport, athletes execute aerial and gymnastic maneuvers on a vertical pole. Additionally, Gaurav Khanna, the Indian para-badminton coach, was also bestowed with the Padma Shri award.
“President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Shri in the field of Sports to Shri Gaurav Khanna. Gaurav Khanna is a para-badminton coach. He has contributed immensely to the promotion of Badminton among Divyanjan. He established a residential badminton academy dedicated to divyang athletes,” Rashtrapati Bhavan posted on X.
He has mentored players such as Pramod Bhagat, Abu Hubaida, and Palak Kohli.