Chennai, June 24:
Former Davis Cupper and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) President Vijay Amritraj was conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, by President Draupadi Murmu today in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.
This is a moment of immense pride as Vijay Amritraj, one of India’s most distinguished sporting ambassadors and a true pride of Tamil Nadu, receives one of the nation’s highest honours, a TNTA release said here.
Born to Robert and Maggie Amritraj and raised alongside his brothers Anand and Ashok, Vijay Amritraj rose to become one of India’s greatest tennis players, achieving a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 18 in 1980.
A three-time National Singles Champion, he represented India with distinction over two decades and led the nation to the Davis Cup Finals in 1974 and 1987, helping place Indian tennis firmly on the world stage and inspiring generations of players to follow. His enduring impact on sport was further recognised when he was selected as an Olympic torchbearer at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Beyond his achievements as a player, he has been a respected commentator, philanthropist, administrator and global ambassador for the sport and the country. He initiated the Britannia Amritraj Tennis (BAT) programme, which nurtured talents like Leander Paes and Somdev Devvarman.
He had served as President of the ATP Council and was appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace, reflecting the respect he earned both on and off the court. His contributions have been recognised through numerous honours, including the Arjuna Award in 1974 and the Padma Shri in 1983. In 2024, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in recognition of his immense contribution to the game and his role in expanding tennis’s reach across Asia.
Vijay Amritraj’s Padma Bhushan adds another landmark chapter to an extraordinary journey of achievement and service. As TNTA President he continues to guide the growth of the sport with the same passion and commitment that defined his playing years.