This goes out to my coach, says Saina Nehwal
Saina Nehwal is on the top of the world. The queen of Indian
badminton on Monday added yet another feather to an already-crowded cap after it was announced that she will be conferred with one of India’s highest civilian honours — the Padma Bhushan.
The Padma Bhushan is awarded for ‘distinguished service of a high order’, and after Saina’s exploits over the last 12 months, one can hardly begrudge the
25-year-old this honour.
And she couldn’t emphasise enough just how thrilled she was at receiving this award. “It’s a great, great honour and I’m very, very, very happy,” Saina said.
“I would like to dedicate this award to (coach) Vimal Kumar sir. He is the one who completely transformed me over the last year or so. I’ve become the player I am right now only because of him,” she said.
Saina, who’s in a race to get fully fit after sustaining an Achilles injury recently, said this news came as a bit of a surprise.
“I wasn’t expecting this one bit. Several sportspersons have done extremely well in various disciplines. So I was just content with my results. I thought I’d just train and work hard and leave this decision to the Government of India,” Saina said.
After winning the China Open in 2014, Saina has been on a rampage. She won the Syed Modi Grand Prix in Lucknow and her maiden India Open Superseries title before an adoring home crowd in Delhi.
She also reached the finals of the World Championships, All England Open as well as the China Open Superseries.
“The year went by so fast it feels like I did all that only yesterday. It all feels surreal. This (award) gives me impetus to do well in the future as well.”
— As told to Vijay Anand
Award will inspire me to earn more laurels for India, says Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza too is on a song. After having scaled the world tennis doubles peak last year, the Hyderabadi has been pocketing points, trophies and awards as a routine.
Padma Bhushan, the latest title conferred upon her by the Government of India on Monday, has the 29-year-old understandably excited.
“It’s truly a humbling experience to be honoured with the Padma Bushan award,” Sania said from Melbourne where she is currently playing the season’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open.
Having put India at the top of world tennis, she pledged to punch harder on the gruelling circuit. “This award will inspire me to earn more laurels for my country,” Sania said.
She duly marched ahead on the court — Sania and Martina Hingis defeated Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova and Italy’s Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-3 to make the Australian Open quarterfinals.
“I hope this will motivate young players in the country and go a long way in promoting tennis in India,” Sania, who got the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna last year, said. Sania has had a stupendous 2015.
She became the first Indian woman to rise to No.1 in world rankings (singles or doubles); won 10 WTA doubles titles to go with two Grand Slams, a record for Indian women.
— As told to Moses Kondety
