<p>Apart from the trio, country's only Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan, hockey player Ignace Tirkey and cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar -- whose notable pupils include Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli -- were also selected for the award.<br />Incidentally, wrestler Sushil Kumar is the only Beijing Olympic medallist to miss out on a Padma award.<br />While Vijender -- who won bronze in Beijing -- won it this year, Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra had been awarded the Padma Bhushan award last year.<br /><br />Talking to PTI, Vijender, who is leaving for exhibition bouts in China, said he expected the honour earlier but had no issues with it coming late.<br />"Better late than never. Every time I go out for a tour, I get a good news. I got a call this morning from the Ministry and told my parents and coaches about it," he said.<br />"I'm happy and would celebrate when I return from China," added the Haryana boxer.<br />Saina, on her part, said country's highest civilian awards would goad her to greater glory.<br />"I would like to dedicate this achievement to my parents and coaches who have helped me a lot to improve my game," Saina said. <br /><br />"It's really a big honour, which also comes with a lot more responsibilities. It will certainly give me a lot of encouragement. I am very happy," said the shuttler from Hyderabad.<br />"Padma Shri" awards are given for distinguished service in any field and are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.<br />The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March-April.<br />The 31-year-old Sehwag is considered arguably the most devastating opener in contemporary cricket with more than 13000 international runs under his belt. The Delhi player got the Arjuna award in 2002.<br />Vijender has been the face of Indian boxing since he won the bronze in Beijing.<br />The Haryana hunk became the top ranked boxer in the middleweight category last year and was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, country's highest sporting honour last year.<br />Like Vijender, the 20-year-old Saina too had changed the face of the game she plays in the country.<br />The Olympic Games quarterfinalist last year became the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament when she lifted the Indonesia Open. <br /><br />Coimbatore-born Narain Karthikeyan also boasts of an illustrious career, being the first Indian Formula One driver even though he was plying his trade in A1 GP of late.<br />Ignace Tirkey is the lone hockey player in the list and the award is a recognition of the midfilder's contribution to Indian hockey.<br />Ramakant Achrekar is the only coach to get the award. the 78-year-old legendary coach, who runs an academy in the Shivaji Park area in Mumbai, has produced players like Tendulkar, Kambli, Pravin Amre, Ajit Agarkar and Ramesh Powar.</p>
<p>Apart from the trio, country's only Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan, hockey player Ignace Tirkey and cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar -- whose notable pupils include Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli -- were also selected for the award.<br />Incidentally, wrestler Sushil Kumar is the only Beijing Olympic medallist to miss out on a Padma award.<br />While Vijender -- who won bronze in Beijing -- won it this year, Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra had been awarded the Padma Bhushan award last year.<br /><br />Talking to PTI, Vijender, who is leaving for exhibition bouts in China, said he expected the honour earlier but had no issues with it coming late.<br />"Better late than never. Every time I go out for a tour, I get a good news. I got a call this morning from the Ministry and told my parents and coaches about it," he said.<br />"I'm happy and would celebrate when I return from China," added the Haryana boxer.<br />Saina, on her part, said country's highest civilian awards would goad her to greater glory.<br />"I would like to dedicate this achievement to my parents and coaches who have helped me a lot to improve my game," Saina said. <br /><br />"It's really a big honour, which also comes with a lot more responsibilities. It will certainly give me a lot of encouragement. I am very happy," said the shuttler from Hyderabad.<br />"Padma Shri" awards are given for distinguished service in any field and are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.<br />The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March-April.<br />The 31-year-old Sehwag is considered arguably the most devastating opener in contemporary cricket with more than 13000 international runs under his belt. The Delhi player got the Arjuna award in 2002.<br />Vijender has been the face of Indian boxing since he won the bronze in Beijing.<br />The Haryana hunk became the top ranked boxer in the middleweight category last year and was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, country's highest sporting honour last year.<br />Like Vijender, the 20-year-old Saina too had changed the face of the game she plays in the country.<br />The Olympic Games quarterfinalist last year became the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament when she lifted the Indonesia Open. <br /><br />Coimbatore-born Narain Karthikeyan also boasts of an illustrious career, being the first Indian Formula One driver even though he was plying his trade in A1 GP of late.<br />Ignace Tirkey is the lone hockey player in the list and the award is a recognition of the midfilder's contribution to Indian hockey.<br />Ramakant Achrekar is the only coach to get the award. the 78-year-old legendary coach, who runs an academy in the Shivaji Park area in Mumbai, has produced players like Tendulkar, Kambli, Pravin Amre, Ajit Agarkar and Ramesh Powar.</p>
