Viswanathan Anand was the first sportsperson to win the Padma Vibhushan. The Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, preceded by Bharat Ratna and followed by Padma Bhushan. The Padma Vibhushan award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.
Vishwanathan Anand is an Indian chess Grandmaster and a former World Chess Champion. He was awarded with India's second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.
