Dronavalli Harika, Achanta Sharath Kamal and Yadlapalli Venkateswara Rao, R Venkataswamy among 112 Recipients Of Padma Awards
The Padma awardees for the year were announced on Friday, the eve of India's 70th Republic Day.
In sports category Dronavalli Harika (Chess) and Achanta Sharath Kamal (Table Tennis), Yadlapalli VenkateswaraRao (Agriculture) R.Venkataswamy (Medicine) selected for "Padma shri" award.
Harika, who is the second Indian woman to win the Grandmaster title, is another Padma Shri awardee from AP. She started playing chess at the age of eight and made it as her career. Harika’s father is her first guru. She won the U14 World Youth Chess Championship at the age of 13, the U18 at 15, the U20 World Junior title at 17 and figured among the world top 10 when she was just 19. She represented India at Olympiad at the age of 13 in 2004. In the Women’s World Chess Championship in 2010, Harika made it to the quarterfinals.
Harika was born on January 12, 1991 in Guntur. She won three bronze medals in the Women’s World Chess Championship in 2012, 2015 and 2017. She was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2007–08.
In 2016, she won the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix at Chengdu, China, and rose to world No 5 in FIDE women’s ranking from No 11.
Another Padma Shri awardee, Yadlapalli Venkateswara Rao, hails from an agricultural family from Guntur district. With interest in agriculture, he started cultivation of their lands at a very young age.He also launched a popular magazine ‘Rythunestham’ in 2005, ‘Pasunestham’ in 2012 and ‘Prakruthi Nestham’ with focus on organic and natural farming in 2014. He also unveiled mobile apps on farming.
Venkateswara Rao also instituted Rythunestham Puraskaram annual awards for farmers and people who contribute to the development of agriculture, horticulture and allied fields.He set up Rythu Nestham Foundation in 2016, which focuses on educating farmers in organic and natural farming methods. Speaking to TNIE over phone, Venkateswara Rao expressed happiness over getting the coveted Padma Shri award.
“This award is not just for me alone but for the entire farming community and for all those who are working in agriculture and allied sectors. My family which supported me in my every step for the welfare of farmers, does deserve this award
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