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 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.
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.
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.
(With inputs from Vimal Mohan, PTI)