Saina Nehwal rants on Twitter following Padma Bhushan snub

Saina Nehwal was not too pleased about being snubbed for the Padma Bhushan award

Saina Nehwal was left stunned after not being listed for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award. Saina was awarded the Khel Ratna and Padma Shri in 2010 and was told to wait five years for the Padma Bhushan award by the Sports Ministry. But even after the five-year period, the Indian badminton player’s name was not included.

Saina, India’s sole Olympic medallist in badminton, was further raged at the award being handed to Sushil Kumar, despite him not completing five years following his Padma Shri award in 2011. The ministry decided Kumar’s case to be special and felt that the wrestler deserved the award more than Saina.

Speaking to Times of India, Saina made a case that both Indian stars should receive the award. "I spoke to the higher officials yesterday. They said Sushil's name has already gone. I can only request them to look into it. If we both can win that would be really good. If his name has been sent as a special case then why my name has not been sent because even if they go by the rules, my name should be sent. Sushil is a great player but then medal is a medal. We both won medals at the Olympics. They could have given the award to him after 2012 Olympics as a special case if they had to. Why do it now? I am disappointed," she said.

The China Open winner tweeted her disappointment at the decision. Here are her tweets:

I saw the news in Times of india about the Padma awards and I was really sad to see that my name was not sent to Ministry of home affairs

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

by sports ministry of india .

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

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

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

Years .

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

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

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

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

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

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 in2014

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

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 .

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

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

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015

Olympics . But I think rule is rule for me they said u have to wait for 5 years to get the award .

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 2, 2015