Sports Ministry will recommend Saina name for Padma Bhushan

The Ministry said in a statement it had not received nomination in respect of  Saina Nehwal from Badminton Association of India or any other agency, for Padma Bhushan for 2014.

"It is also clarified that Ministry had not received any nomination in respect of  Saina Nehwal last year either. So the question of Department of Sports intimating Ms. Saina Nehwal that her nomination for Padma Bhushan was not recommended to the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2013, as there has to be a gap of 5 years between two Padma Awards, does not arise.

"The Ministry has since received the nomination of Ms. Saina Nehwal for Padma Bhushan on 3rd January, 2015 from Badminton Association of India. 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," it said.

The ministry clearing the air said: "On 1st May, 2014, the Ministry of Home Affairs invited nominations for Padma Awards. Last date for forwarding nominations to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was 15.09.2014.  The Department of Sports circulated the MHA’s letter to all the National Sports Federations / Sports Control Boards for sending the nominations of sportspersons and coaches to the Department of Sports by 20.08.2014.

"Based on the nominations received from the Federations etc., the Departments of Sports recommended the name of Shri Sushil Kumar (wrestling) for Padma Bhushan. The recommendation was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 15.09.2014," said the sports ministry.

"Shri Sushil Kumar’s recommendation for Padma Bhushan Award was made after taking into consideration his achievements, viz. Bronze Medal in Beijing Olympic Games-2008; Gold medal in Commonwealth Games-2010; Gold Medal in Senior World Wrestling Championship-2010; Silver Medal in London Olympic Games-2012; Gold Medal in Commonwealth Games-2014; and several other achievements at national and international level."

Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal earlier told NDTV: "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."

He flayed the Badminton Association of India for  "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 the news channel.

Saina Nehwal on Saturday thanked her fans for supporting her at a time when the Union Sports Ministry decided to reject her application for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award.

In her Twitter homepage, Saina said : "Thank u friends for ur love and support."

Saina has expressed her disappointment over the decision taken the Sports Ministry over the Padma Bhushan award.

In a series of tweets, Saina expressed her thoughts on the issue, as she said: "I got the Padma Shri in 2010 and there is a policy that u can get the next Padma award only after 5 years and this year I completed my five years."

"When I sent my file in 2014 for the Padma Bhushan award the ministry said u have to follow the rules and submit the application after 5 Years so my file got rejected last year and I again applied this year for the award . I read that Sushil Kumar name is recommended by the Sports ministry and he is not completed 5 years as a special case but even i won the Olympic bronze medal in 2012 and won many titles in 2014," Nehwal said.

"I won the commonwealth games gold in 2010 and I m world number 4. As a player we feel good when we get such a great award and it motivates .I hope sports ministry look up to this and I will be more than happy if both me and Sushil gets the award as we both won medals in 2012. Olympics . But I think rule is rule for me they said u have to wait for 5 years to get the award," she said.