<Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Swimmer </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Awards </Th> <Td> Padma Shri in 1960 </Td> </Tr> <P> Arati Gupta née Saha (24 September 1940--23 August 1994) was an Indian long distance swimmer . Born in Calcutta, West Bengal, British India, Arati was initiated in swimming at the early age of four, and her talent was spotted by Sachin Nag . She was inspired by Indian swimmer Mihir Sen to try to cross the English Channel . In 1959 she became the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel . In 1960, she became the first Indian female sportsperson to be awarded Padma Shri . </P> <P> Arati came from a middle class Bengali Hindu family . She was born the second of three children and the first of two daughters to Panchugopal Saha in 1940 in Kolkata . Her father was an ordinary employee in the armed forces . At the age of two and half, she lost her mother . Her elder brother and younger sister Bharati was raised at the maternal uncle's house, while she was raised by her grandmother in North Kolkata . </P>

Who was the first female sportsperson to be awarded padma shri