Savita Punia

Event Description

Savita Punia is a legendary field hockey goalkeeper and the former captain of the Indian Women’s National Hockey Team. Widely celebrated as the "Great Wall of Indian Hockey," she is regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world. Born in Haryana, India, she has earned over 300 international caps, making her only the second Indian woman in hockey history to achieve this milestone. Her exceptional reflexes, leadership, and consistency earned her the prestigious FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award for three consecutive years.

Summary

She is best known for her heroic performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where her spectacular saves helped the Indian team secure a historic fourth-place finish. Under her captaincy, India also clinched a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and back-to-back Women's Asian Champions Trophy titles. In recognition of her immense contribution to Indian sports, she was honored with the Arjuna Award and later conferred with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.

Award Details

Padma Shri