(Image source from: Padma Bhushan for Paes)

Top honors for Indian sportsmen like Leander Paes, Pullela Gopichand and Yuvraj Singh!

The government of India has nominated 40-year-old tennis star and multiple awards winner Leander Paes and Padma Shri winning badminton player-turned-coach Pullela Gopichand for the esteemed Padma Bhushan, cricketer Yuvraj Singh has been named for this year's Padma Shri award.

Leander Paes, who has previously won the the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award, is the most successful tennis player in the country with 14 Grand Slam title -- eight men's doubles and six mixed doubles.

Squash player Dipika Pallikal, former Indian women's cricket captain Anjum Chopra, Sunil Dabas (Kabaddi), Love Raj Singh Dharmshaktu (Mountaineering), H Boniface Prabhu (Wheel Chair Tennis) and Mamta Sodha (Mountaineering) were the other sports persons selected for this year's Padma Shri awards.

The Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian awards of the country, is given for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.

AW: Suchorita Choudhury