Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports

Civilian Awards Active

Published Sep 9, 2026 Updated Sep 9, 2026 1 min read

Overview History Segment Records Segment Chart FAQs

Name	Padma Vibhushan
Type	Civilian Awards
Award For	Exceptional and Distinguished Service
Award By	Goverment of India
First	1954
Last	26th January 2026
Status	Active
Country	India

About Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports

The Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards.

History of Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports

Only four sportspersons have ever received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor, underscoring how exclusive this category is compared to fields like literature, science, or public affairs. Chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar both received it in 2008, the same year New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary was honored posthumously for his 1953 Everest ascent. Boxer M. C. Mary Kom, a six-time world champion, was recognized in 2020, becoming the first female athlete to earn this rare distinction.

Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports Winners List

This Winners List features 4 winners of the Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports, from 2008 to 2020.

Year	Recipient Name	Gender	State, Country	Fields

2020	M. C. Mary Kom Also won: Padma Bhushan	female	Manipur, India	Sports
2008	Dr. E. Sreedharan	male	Tamil Nadu, India	Sports
2008	Sir Edmund Hillary (Posthumous, Non-citizen)	male	Auckland, New Zealand	Sports
2008	Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar	male	Maharashtra, India	Sports

Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports Award Chart by Gender

This chart groups 4 Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports winners by Gender, across 2 distinct entries — male leads with 3 wins.

Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports Award Chart by Fields

This chart tracks Padma Vibhushan Award Winners in Sports winners by year from 2008 to 2020, spanning 2 years, with the most wins (3) recorded in 2008.