JOIN USIndia’s top woman shuttler Saina Nehwal on Saturday expressed disappointment at being ignored for the Padma Bhushan award for this year.
The 24-year-old sent out a tweet about the Sports Ministry’s refusal to forward her name to the Home Ministry for the country’s third highest civilian award. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) had recommended the Hyderabad-based shuttler’s name to the Sports Ministry in August last for the award.
However, Ministry preferred double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar as a more suitable candidate for the year. She, however hoped that the Ministry would reconsider its decision and would make her the recipient along with Sushil.
"I was really sad my name was not sent to the ministry of Home Affairs by the Sports Ministry of India. I hope Sports Ministry look up to this and I will be more than happy if both me and Sushil get the award as we both won medals in 2012 Olympics," Saina tweeted.
The Hyderabadi also questioned the selection criteria. “When I sent my file in 2014 for the Padma Bhushan award the ministry said you have to follow the rules and submit the application after five years so my file got rejected last year and I again applied this year for the award. I read that Sushil Kumar name is recommended by the Sports ministry and he is not completed five years (after receiving the Padma Shri), as a special case, but even I won the Olympic bronze medal in 2012 and won many titles in 2014.
“But I think rule is rule for me, they said you have to wait for five years to get the award.”
Saina, who won the Olympic bronze in 2012 London Olympics, is the recipient of Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awards in 2010 and Arjuna Award in 2009. She said awards motivate players to perform better. "I won the Commonwealth Games gold in 2010 and I am the world number four. As a player we feel good when we get such a great award and it motivates."
A top BAI official said they would also take up the matter with the Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.