New Delhi: Former Indian cricket captain S Venkataraghavan, hockey star Mukesh Kumar and middle distance runner Jyotirmoyee Sikdar are among those awarded Padma Shri by President A P J Abdul Kalam on the occasion of Republic Day.

Mountaineer Kanhaiya Lal Pokhriyal and kho-kho player Gopal Puroshattam Phadke are the two others who have been honoured with Padma Shri for their outstanding contribution to sports.

Venkataraghavan, a quality off spinner, led India in the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979. He is now one of the leading umpires on the elite panel of International Cricket Council (ICC).

Mukesh Kumar, a former hockey captain, was a distinguished right out and represented India in three Olympic Games in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000).

Sikdar won gold medals in women's 400m and 800m race in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games. Phadke is a renowned kho-kho coach for the last 40 years and has contributed immensely towards promoting indigenous games like kho-kho and malkhamb. He was also honoured with the Dronacharya Award in 2000.

PTI