New Delhi: Women dominated this year’s Padma awards for sports with tennis star Sania Mirza and ace shuttler Saina Nehwal
getting the nod for the Padma Bhushan, while archer Deepika Kumari was chosen for the Padma Shri here today.
All three were in sublime touch last year and brought the country laurels in their respective sports.
Sania enjoyed the most sensational run, clinching nine titles — including two Grand Slams last year with Swiss great Martina
Hingis. The exceptional performance propelled her to the top of the WTA women’s doubles rankings.
The 29-year-old is currently competing in the Australian Open in Melbourne, where she has reached the women’s doubles quarterfinals with Hingis.
The Hyderabadi has previously won the Padma Shri, besides being a Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardee.
“It’s a truly humbling experience to be honoured with the Padma Bhushan award and will serve to inspire me to earn more laurels for my country,” Sania said from Melbourne.
Saina has also been in spectacular touch, winning silver medals at the All England and World Badminton Championship last year besides clinching the India Open Super
Series and Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold.
Deepika, on the other hand, won a silver at the Archery World Cup Final besides bronze medals at the World Cup Stage II and the Asian Team Championships.
Saina, who is in the country to compete in this week’s Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold Tournament, said the honour has left her surprised. Interestingly, the 25-year-old had expressed her displeasure at being ignored for the award last year.
“It is a great honour and I want to thank the Ministry for giving me the award. I am very happy with the way the last year has gone, I have been performing well. I reached World No.1 last year and now I am World No.2. I am sure this award will give me more motivation to do well further this year,” said the shuttler.
“It came as a complete surprise to me. I had no clue. I did not expect at all. There was no news of it at all. When I think that I am just 25 and I have received this award, it makes me feel great. But it is still a long way to go.” (PTI)