The sports ministry has finally decided to recommend ace badminton player Saina Nehwal for Padma Bhushan, on Monday evening, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal claimed that the decision was taken after considering the 24-year-old badminton player’s “commitment, contribution and achievement.” Saina is one of the greatest badminton players and she has made every Indian proud. My ministry will definitely examine the possibility of sending her name for the awards.

“In view of the achievements of Ms. Saina Nehwal, the Department of Sports has decided to recommend her case for Padma Bhushan to the Ministry of Home Affairs as a special case although the last date for making the recommendation is long over,” the Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The Sports minister SarbanandaSonowal also said, “I would also like to categorically state that Ms Saina Nehwal has made every Indian proud and sincerely hope she will continue to bring laurels to Indian sports.” Saina is the first Indian to win a Premier, Super Series and Grand Prix Gold titles.

Reason for Saina Nehwal Disappointment :

Saina Nehwal Says these when you dream about such big awards, when play for your country you want to win every time and stand on the podium. Its like a national hounor, for every player it motivates alot and helps to do better and better.

On Saturday, a disappointed Saina had stated that the Badminton Association of India (BAI) had recommended her name for the Padma Bhushan in August last year but the Sports Ministry rejected her application. But Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal refuted the claim, saying that his ministry received the letter of nomination only on Saturday.

The Ministry reiterated its stand on Monday and said, not just this year, it didn’t receive any letter from BAI nominating Saina for the Padma awards in 2013 as well.

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Sports Minister Sonowal said no matter when he received the application, he was keen that Saina Nehwal was considered for the award. “I have seen reports in sections of the media that the sports ministry didn’t recommend the name of Ms Saina Nehwal for the Padma Bhushan award. On ascertaining the facts, the Sports Ministry had not received any nomination from Badminton Association of India(BAI) prior to January 3, 2015. A letter, dated August 9, 2014, nominating Ms Nehwal for the Padma Bhushan Award was received by the staff at my residence on January 3rd 2015 .

Saina Nehwal Questioned the Ministry :

“There has to be a gap of at least five years between two Padma awards to the same person” as per the norms

Nehwal had also questioned the ministry which recomended Sushil’s name. Sushil received the Padma Shri in 2011. As per the norms, there has to be a gap of at least five years between two Padma awards to the same person. That means he wouldn’t have been eligible for the Padma Bhushan before 2016. But he was nominated for Padma Bhushan.

She, however, made it clear that she had no problems in wrestler Sushil Kumar getting nominated for the award but felt that she was equally deserving along with the Olympic medallist.

However, the home ministry has the prerogative to relax the rules in ‘highly deserving’ cases. The 24-year-old Saina said her name was rejected last year for the same reason. As she received was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010 and so she was not eligible for next five years for padma awards.