Sania, Saina to be bestowed with Padma Bhushan; Deepika Kumari to get Padma Shri

Saina Nehwal became the first Indian women to reach the World No.1 ranking in badminton last year, and won both the Syed Modi International and the Indian Open title in 2015. The 25-year-old also reached the final of the All England Open Badminton Championships and the BWF World Championships, both times losing to eventual champion World No.1 Carolina Marin.

Sania Mirza, on the other hand, has been on a scintillating run of form since pairing up with Martina Hingis in the doubles. The Indo-Swiss pair lifted their 11th title, including two Grand Slams, since march at the Sydney International, and they are currently on a 33-match winning streak.

Mirza has already received the Arjuna Award (2004) and the Padma Shri (2006). Last year she was bestowed with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, and she has now added another feather to her dazzling cap. Like Mirza, Saina Nehwal has also received the Arjuna Award (2009), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2009-10) and the Padma Shri (2010).

Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in India, after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan. Sania and Saina will now join the likes of Rahul Dravid, Mary Kom, Leander Paes, Pullela Gopichand, Vishwanathan Anand and Abhinav Bindra, in the long list of legends of Indian sports who have been awarded this honour.

Archer Deepika Kumari, who won a silver medal at the Archery World Cup last year, and Sushil Doshi, the legendary hindi cricket commentator, have will also receive the Padma Shri award.