Saina Nehwal May Be Recommended for Padma Bhushan Award: Sarbananda Sonowal to NDTV
In a exclusive chat with NDTV, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that recommendation for Saina Nehwal for Padma Bhushan Award in 2015 will be considered. The ministry received the letter of recommendation from the Badminton Association of India, dated August 9 2014, on Saturday.
Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told NDTV that his ministry would examine the possibility of recommending ace Badminton player Saina Nehwal for the Padma Bhushan award for 2015.
"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," Sonowal told NDTV.
The minister, however, took on the Badminton Association of India for what he termed as "not sending the nomination well on time."
"The staff at my bungalow received a packet that had a letter recommending Saina's name, only yesterday. Even my private secretary received an email from Badminton Association yesterday," the minister told NDTV.
The Badminton Association of India's letter, however, was dated August 9, 2014.
On Friday, Saina had expressed her displeasure at being overlooked for two-time Olympic medal winner and wrestler Sushil Kumar.
Nehwal had contended that Sushil's nomination is in violation of an existing rule that says any person who gets an award in the Padma category cannot be nominated for a higher category of the Padma awards within five years. Sushil Kumar got the Padma Shri in 2011.
Responding to this criticism, Sonowal said, " I have also read about this rule. We will have this examined tomorrow and I am sure the Home Ministry on its part, will also scrutinise the record."