Government’s ‘partisan’ attitude has left Saina Nehwal disappointed
Saina Nehwal
Hyderabad: The government’s ‘partisan’ attitude has left star badminton player Saina Nehwal disappointed, after reports surfaced that two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar has been nominated as a special case for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award.
“I read in the papers that Sushil has been nominated for the award. I know the Badminton Association of India has submitted my name to the sports ministry in August, but I hadn’t heard from them (the ministry). So when I spoke to them on Friday, they informed me they didn’t forward my name to the ministry of home affairs,” Saina told
this newspaper on Saturday.
“It is disappointing I was not even considered for the award. Whether or not I get the award is the jury’s call, but I was never even given that chance,” Saina added.
Ministry guidelines state that for an individual to receive his or her second Padma award, there needs to be a gap of at least five years, and therein lies the problem. Saina was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010 while Sushil was accorded the honour in 2011. Reports indicate the wrestler was treated as a special case this year, after his silver medal-winning show at the London Games in 2012.
“If his achievement at the Olympics was the criterion for special consideration, then my name should have been in the running, too. I had also won a medal in London. Why not give him the award in 2012 or 2013? Why now?”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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