Saina hurt and angry after Padma award snub HYDERABAD: Saina Nehwal is hurt and angry too. Disappointed after the sports ministry rejected her application for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award this year citing norms, the ace badminton player served volleys of resentment on Twitter over the denial of the third highest award of the country.
Wasting no time, she took the Twitter by storm saying: 'I read that wrestler Sushil Kumar's name was recommended by the sports ministry for the award. I was really sad to see that my name was not sent to the ministry of home affairs.'
When contacted, Saina told she was indeed hurt. 'I was the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal. I had also won the CWG gold. I think Sushil and I deserve the award'.
Saina, who has shifted to Bengaluru to train under Vimal Kumar after moving away from Hyderabad, nurses the hope that she would be considered for the award.
She tweeted, 'I was bestowed with the Padma Shri in 2010 and there is a policy that you can get the next Padma award only after five years and this year I completed my five years. My file was rejected last year and I applied this year again for the award.'
This is not the first time the 24-year-old shuttler has taken the social media route to express her dissent. In July this year, she gave vent to her ire after tennis star Sania Mirza was made Telangana brand ambassador by tweeting, 'I am happy to know that Sania Mirza has become the brand ambassador of Telangana and I am proud of Telangana but (sic) I am very hurt and sad that I have still not received the cash award from my State for the Olympic bronze medal that I won for my country (sic).'
Meanwhile, Saina's tweets have evoked mixed reactions. Vimal Kumar was cautious. 'I don't know the latest developments. She has the credentials and achievements. Sushil also deserves. I am not sure what is the reason. But, sooner or later, Saina will get. May be she is still young,' he said.
Triple hockey Olympian N Mukesh Kumar said: 'Sushil is the first Indian to win back-to-back Olympic medals . He has won Commonwealth Games gold and World Cup medals. But Saina has not won a medal at the World Championship.
She is young and can wait'. Former national badminton champion Madhumita Bisht said both Sushil and Saina deserve the Padma Bhushan. 'Sushil is a legend. So is Saina. She has brought laurels to the country. It is better both of them get the award.'
News Posted: 4 January, 2015
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