India, Jan. 25 -- India's 2026 Padma Shri roll has a distinct sporting pulse: two of the country's biggest cricket faces, a long-serving hockey goalkeeper, a Paralympic high-jump champion, and a set of names that spotlight coaches and keepers of traditional physical culture.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a press note dated January 25, 2026, said the President has approved 131 Padma awards. It also reiterated that Padma Shri is for "distinguished service" in any field, with the awards announced on Republic Day and usually conferred at Rashtrapati Bhawan around March/April.

Among the 113 Padma Shri awardees, eight are listed under the field "Sports": Rohit Sharma (Maharashtra), Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar (Punjab), Savita Punia (Har...