Khel Ratna for Saina

Jul 31, 2010 - Age Correspondent |

New Delhi

Ace shuttler and world number two Saina Nehwal was on Friday selected for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the country’s highest sporting honour, putting the icing on the cake to her sensational 2010.

The national sports awards (Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dhyan Chand) selection committee headed by former Olympic sprinter P.T. Usha met here on Friday and decided to bestow the Khel Ratna on Saina for her brilliant performance last year.
Saina got the Arjuna Award in 2009 and won a hat-trick of Super Series titles in June to zoom to second place in world rankings. “I am really happy. It’s unbelievable, a dream come true for me to get another within one year. National awards give you a lot of motivation, and it definitely has inspired me to achieve more glory for my country,” Saina said.
“The decision to select Saina for the Khel Ratna was unanimous considering her performance last year,” a ministry source told this newspaper. The award, to be presented August 29 by President Pratibha Patil, consists of Rs 7.5 lakhs in cash, a scroll of honour and a medal. Hockey drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, women’s cricket captain Jhulan Goswami and boxer Dinesh Kumar are among those tipped for the Arjuna Aw-ards.

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