Veteran Indian women's hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia was conferred the Padma Shri — India's fourth-highest civilian honour — by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 24 June, in recognition of her more than a decade of distinguished service to Indian hockey. Hockey India hailed the award as a fitting tribute to one of the sport's most enduring figures.

Hockey India's Tribute

Hockey India described Savita as a 'true icon' of Indian sport in a post on X, stating: 'A Padma Shri for a true icon. Indian women's hockey stalwart Savita receives the Padma Shri from Hon'ble President Droupadi Murmu, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Indian sport. A richly deserved honour for a player who has guarded India's goalpost with distinction for over a decade, inspiring millions through her excellence, resilience and leadership.'

Savita Speaks: Family, Passion, and Patience

An emotional Savita said the award carried deep personal significance — not just for her, but for her family and teammates. 'I am feeling very good because it is a very big award in itself. When I started playing hockey, I never thought that my journey would be so long and that I would receive such a big individual honour. It is a big thing for me, my family and my team,' she said.

Savita credited her family's unwavering support for keeping her career alive through difficult phases. 'There were many circumstances when I thought I would have to stop playing. But because of the support of my family, I continued my hockey journey. Being a girl from a middle-class family, getting so much support from my parents feels very special,' she added.

She also used the moment to send a message to young girls across the country: 'A good example is set for everyone that if Savita can do it, then our girls can also do it... If you are in any field, you should have passion, dedication and patience. There is no shortcut to success. You have to be patient and work hard.'

A Career of Historic Milestones

Savita made her senior international debut at the age of 20 and has since become one of the most decorated goalkeepers in Indian hockey history. In 2025, she became only the second Indian goalkeeper after PR Sreejesh to complete 300 international caps, a benchmark that underlines her extraordinary longevity at the highest level.

Her most celebrated moment came at the Tokyo Olympics, where she played a pivotal role in India's historic fourth-place finish — a campaign widely credited with transforming the visibility and profile of women's hockey in India. She also featured at the Rio Olympics and helped the side reach the quarter-finals of the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup.

Leadership and Captaincy Honours

As captain, Savita led India to a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and guided the side to the FIH Nations Cup title. Under her captaincy, India also claimed back-to-back Women's Asian Champions Trophy titles in 2023 and 2024.

Among her individual honours, Savita received the Arjuna Award in 2018, was named Hockey India Balbir Singh Senior Player of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, and won the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award for three consecutive seasons — 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23. The Padma Shri now crowns a career that has set the standard for every young goalkeeper in the country.