Archer Rai, hockey Olympian Ganesh among 9 others in fray for Padma awards

Archer Tarundeep Rai and hockey Olympian MP Ganesh were on Thursday recommended for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour in India, alongside seven women sportspersons by the Sports Ministry.

Besides Rai and Ganesh, seven women in this year's list of recommendations for the Padma Shri award are wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Manika Batra (table tennis), cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, national women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal, former shooter Suma Shirur and mountaineer twin sisters Tashi and Nungshi Malik.

Rai and Ganesh were late additions to the list, which is yet to be approved by Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.

In six-time world champion M C Mary Kom, the Sports Ministry has, for the first time, recommended a woman athlete for the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award, the country's second highest civilian honour after Bharat Ratna.

Mary Kom had won the Padma Bhushan in 2013 and Padma Shri way back in 2006.

The Sports Ministry has also recommended world champion and Olympic ...