The Padma Awards are the highest civilian honours, which the Government of India confers in recognition of 'distinguished contribution of Indian citizens in various spheres of activity, including the arts, education, industry, literature, science, acting, medicine, social service, sports and public affairs.
In 2026, a total of nine Indian sportspersons were conferred with the Padma awards, out of which eight received the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour and Tennis icon Vijay Amritraj was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour.
The eight athletes who were awarded the Padma Shri awards include World Cup-winning India women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur and former Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
JOPLIN, MO — After falling 8-4 in Game 1 versus Central Oklahoma on Friday, Missouri Southern Softball captured Games 2 and 3 to crown themselves NCAA Division II Central Super Regional Champions.
Game 2 started with a 1-0 UCO lead, which quickly turned in MSSU’s favor. Taylor Nuckolls drove in the game-tying RBI after saving a run in the field at shortstop.
.@MSSUSoftball bounces back and takes Game 2 of Central Super Regional series vs. UCO 6-1🚨
Some key plays:
🥎Taylor Nuckolls saves run at the plate from shortstop 🥎Nuckolls keeps up the momentum with game-tying RBI 🥎Katie Gray hit by pitch to take first lead 2-1
Katie Gray would follow by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Southern its first lead of the afternoon. The Lions were able to then piece together five unanswered runs to secure a 6-1 Game 2 victory.
Game 3 began in similar fashion. UCO jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and held the Lions scoreless with no hits through the first three innings. That’s when Maddie Rolfs sent a three-run home run over the left field wall for Southern’s first hit and lead of Game 3.
Maddie Rolfs sends a 3-run homer to left field for MSSU's first hit of the game vs. UCO in Game 3 finale of Central Super Regional Championship. @KODESportspic.twitter.com/0zR77z1FUD
UCO simply had no answers after Rolfs’ home run. The Lions tallied on four more runs, while Kiki Pickens closed out the game in the circle pitching 5.0 innings, delivering four strikeouts, and only allowing four hits.
Missouri Southern’s postseason run continued after Carsen Tinkler tossed the final out to Katie Gray at first base in a 7-4 Central Super Regional Championship finish.
The moment @MSSUSoftball became Central Super Regional Champs‼️
The Lions have now recorded the most wins in program history in a single season (53) along with capturing its first-ever Super Regional Title.
“All you can do is cry,” Pickens explains. “We trusted the process and took it pitch by pitch. Our team put in some much effort and the outcome showed.”
“We’re going to enjoy this for tonight, but we’re ready to go,” head coach Hallie Blackney added. “It took a lot of work to get here and we’re going [to the World Series] now. We’re not going just to show up. We’re going to send a message that Missouri Southern softball is here.”
This series win marks the most wins (53) in a single season for the program, along with capturing its first-ever Super Regional Title. MSSU won the region in 1992, but went straight to the World Series that year because the Super Regional Tournament wasn’t added until 2004.
Details on the NCAA Division II World Series will be announced next week.
Games 2 and 3 start times were changed from 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 8:10 p.m. due to inclement weather concerns. The location of the games was shifted from Pat Lipira Softball Complex to Joplin High School as well.
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