India's leading international sportswomen - Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza - have been awarded the Padma Bhushan this year. It is the third-highest civilian award in India after the Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan. Both Sania and Saina have won the Arjuna Award before.
Sania Mirza, who earlier won the Padma Shri, had a glorious 2015. The Hyderabad girl, playing alongside former Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis of Switzerland, is the world No. 1 doubles team in tennis. She is currently playing the Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam.
London Olympics bronze medallist, Saina Nehwal, who has been awarded the Rajiv Khel Ratna award (2009) and the Padma Shri (2010), also had a brilliant 2015. She was No. 1 in singles in world badminton and currently is among the top-three players of the world.