Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, popularly known as the “Wall of India,” has been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award by the Government of India on the eve of Republic Day. The 35-year-old veteran, who hails from Jodhkan village in Sirsa, Haryana, described the honour as a recognition of the entire national team rather than an individual achievement.
Reaction & Dedication Currently training at the national camp in Bengaluru under coach Sjoerd Marijne, Savita was reportedly “surprised and nervous” when she received the news.
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Dedication: She dedicated the award to her father, Mahender Punia, who has been her pillar of support. “My father received the call first… he was so emotional he couldn’t speak. This award belongs to him,” she shared.
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Team Spirit: “I know it’s an individual award, but for me, it’s a team award. It recognizes the resilience of the Indian women’s hockey team after a challenging year,” Savita stated, hoping this would motivate the squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers in March.
Career Milestones Savita is only the second Indian woman goalkeeper to earn over 300 international caps. Her career highlights include:
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Tokyo Olympics (2020): Her phenomenal performance in saving penalty corners earned her the “Wall of India” moniker and helped India secure a historic 4th place finish.
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Leadership: She captained the side to a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2023 Women’s Asian Champions Trophy.
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Awards: She has previously been honoured with the Arjuna Award (2018) and has won the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award for three consecutive years (2021-2023).
Other Awardees Along with Savita, legendary hockey coach Baldev Singh (associated with the Shahbad hockey nursery in Haryana) and Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur were also named for the Padma Shri. From Haryana, Khem Raj Sundriyal was also selected for the award in the field of Art (Weaving).
