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Saina demands Padma Bhushan
Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal is disappointed and angry at the Union Sports Ministry after they rejected her application for the Padma Bhushan award this year, citing norms. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) had recommended her name for the award to the Sports Ministry in August last year but the ministry picked two-time Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar as it feels he is a more deserving candidate.
New Delhi: Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal is disappointed and angry at the Union Sports Ministry after they rejected her application for the Padma Bhushan award this year, citing norms. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) had recommended her name for the award to the Sports Ministry in August last year but the ministry picked two-time Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar as it feels he is a more deserving candidate.
‘I heard that Sushil Kumar's name was sent for Padma award as a special case, while my name was not sent to Ministry of Home Affairs by the Sports Ministry. The ministry guidelines say that there needs to be a gap of five years between two Padma awards. So if they can send his name, why they didn't recommend my name as I have completed the five years gap. I felt bad about it,’ Saina, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010, said.
The 24-yr-old claimed that her application was rejected last year also on similar grounds but this year, the ministry decided to recommend Sushil's name even though he has not completed the five-year norm after being bestowed with Padma Shri in 2011. ‘Sushil is a great player but then medal is a medal. We both won medals at the Olympics.
They could have given the award to him after 2012 Olympics as a special case if they had to. Why do it now? I am disappointed,’ she said. Saina, who is the only Indian badminton player to win a medal at the Olympics, was bestowed with Khel Ratna and Padma Shri honours in 2010. She also received Arjuna Award in 2009.
