India, Jan. 25 -- Indian Women's Hockey Team goalkeeper Savita Punia has been receiving a flood of phone calls, text messages and congratulatory wishes ever since it was announced that she will be awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India. But amid all the praise and celebrations, it is one phone call that will stay with her for a lifetime, the one that reached her father first.

"My brother had filled the application form and gave my father's number. At 8:30am in the morning today, my father (Mohinder Singh Punia) received the call about me winning the Padma Shri. Woh mujhe phone pe bata bhi nahi paa rahe the kyunki bahut emotional the," says Savita, recalling the phone call. She adds, "Thi...