India's first Paralympic gold medalist awarded Padma Shri

India's first Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar was on Thursday awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour. The 70-year-old war hero became India's first-ever Paralympic gold medalist in 1972 Germany Games by finishing first in 50m freestyle Swimming event. Petkar was disabled during the 1965 war after sustaining several bullet wounds.