Paes receives Padma Bhushan award

President Pranab Mukherjee presenting Padma Bhushan to Leander Paes during the investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawa in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Indian tennis star Leander Paes was on Saturday conferred the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian honour, by President Pranab Mukherjee at a private ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

The 40-year-old, who aspires to represent India at the Olympics for a historic seventh time in Rio de Janeiro, posted pre and post-ceremony pictures on his Twitter page.

“Padma Bhushan...Thanks for the years of support everyone!!! The rest is still unwritten...Jai Hind!” he wrote on the micro-blogging site.

“Padma Bhushan ceremony, Rashtrapati Bhavan! Nothing like family by my side. I miss my baby, Aiyana...” read his pre-ceremony tweet.

Paes was among the 11 Padma Bhushan awardees this year.