Sania Mirza to be Given Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
Sania Mirza is the world's No. 1 doubles tennis player. She won the Wimbledon title in June this year partnering Swiss Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis.
Wimbledon 2015 doubles champion Sania Mirza has been awarded the coveted Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award by the Union sports ministry. It made for a bitter-sweet day for the Indian tennis queen, who was earlier on Tuesday booked for traffic violation in her hometown, Hyderabad. (Sania Mirza Fined for Traffic Violation)
Sania won her career's first ever women's doubles Grand Slam title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis in June. She also became world number one before winning the grasscourt major. (Honoured to Share Wimbledon Trophy with India)
Recently, sports secretary Ajit Sharan said the sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal had recommended the Khel Ratna for Sania. It is the highest honour given for achievement in sports. (Roger Federer Congratulates Sania Mirza, Martina Hingis)
Sania, who has won three mixed doubles Grand Slams in her career, was reportedly competing with squash player Deepika Pallikal and discus thrower Vikas Gowda for the prestigious award. (Best Tennis I have Ever Played: Sania Mirza)
(With inputs from Vimal Mohan, PTI)