Padma awards

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support for sports and stressed the importance of nurturing young talent after being conferred the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award.

The former Davis Cup player said he was deeply honoured to receive this prestigious recognition for his contribution to Indian sport.

"I think I'm truly honoured; I'm thrilled and delighted. I'm humbled by this incredible award from the Government of India. The Padma Awards are very special. The Padma Bhushan is particularly meaningful for me at this stage in my career. I thank the Government of India, I thank the Prime Minister, and, of course, the people of this great country who have helped me perform to the best of my ability, not just in India but around the world. It has been a real honour to represent India globally," Amritraj told IANS.