HONOUR: Sardar and Saba get Padma Sri awards

Even as the States President Barack Obama graces India’s Republic Day parade by being present in New Delhi, there is a double good news for Indian hockey what with two players getting country’s prestigious civilian award.

Indian captain Sardar Singh and former women hockey player Saba Anjum of Chhatisgarh have been selected for conferment of Padma Sri Awards. They are among a dozen Indian sports persons who have been honoured with the award.

The award is given by the government of India for outstanding Indian citizen and foreigners, whose list this year include none other than Bill Gates and his philanthropic wife Milinda Gates.

When India won the first-ever Commonwealth Games gold in 2002 at Manchester, Saba was the youngest of the Indian women hockey team, and was the lone player in the golden team not to have a job.

The little girl, of just 16 then has come a long way to earn both Arjuna and Padma Sri Awards.

Daughter of a maulana (Muslim preacher), Saba has been the product of Sports hostel, Chandigarh and then joined Indian Railways.

Saba Anjum is nowadays one of the national selectors

Sardar Singh too had a similar humble way in hockey baptism, but rose to fame with ever-improving game.

The nation salutes both Sardar Singh and Saba Anjum, fittingly and deservedly.

Ignace Tirkey was the last Padma Sri award of Indian hockey.
Though announced on the eve of India’s 66th Republic Day, the awards will be conferred by the President of India in April this year.