Yuvraj and Anjum Chopra get Padma Shri

Yuvraj Singh and former India women's captain Anjum Chopra have been awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, for their services to cricket. The two cricketers were among seven sportspersons named in the awards list announced on the eve of the country's Republic Day.

"Feeling happy n honoured to join the illustrious list of Padamshree awardees this year," Yuvraj tweeted. "My gratitude to the govt of india. Thanks for all the wishs and msgs this is a grt motivation for me to continue to serv my country in cricket & in cancer awarenes With al my heart & love to al".

Yuvraj has had a difficult year in international cricket, and did not find a place in India's ODI squad touring New Zealand. He has, however, seen plenty of highs in a career spanning 40 Tests, 293 ODIs and 34 T20s, most memorably a Man of the Tournament performance in India's victorious 2011 World Cup campaign. He was diagnosed with cancer soon after that, but recovered to make a heartwarming comeback a year later.

Chopra is one of the country's most successful women cricketers, having played 12 Tests, 127 ODIs and 18 T20s between 1995 and 2012. Chopra, the eighth highest run-getter in women's ODIs, featured in four 50-over World Cups, including the 2005 edition in South Africa, where India reached the final, and captained India to a Test series win in England in 2006.