Tennis sensation Rohan Bopanna, poised to ascend to the pinnacle of the doubles world rankings, received the prestigious Padma Shri honour from the government on Thursday.
Expressing his sincere gratitude on Twitter, Bopanna acknowledged the significance of being conferred with the fourth-highest civilian honour, Padma Shri, following Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan. This accolade is bestowed for distinguished service across various fields.
“I am extremely grateful to have conferred the Padma Shri Award. Thank you for the honour & to all those who have supported me through this journey” Bopanna wrote on X.
At 43, Bopanna’s consistent performances have positioned him as the oldest player to secure the world number one spot when the latest rankings are unveiled on Monday.
The seasoned player is on the cusp of a historic achievement as he competes in the Australian Open final alongside partner Matthew Ebden, eyeing his first-ever men’s doubles major title. Notably, Bopanna stands as the fourth Indian to clinch a Grand Slam trophy, having triumphed in the mixed doubles category at the French Open in 2017 alongside Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski.
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