Rajiv Khel Ratna award for Saina

Hyderabadi and ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal is tipped to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country's highest sports award.

The award's committee headed by India's legendary athlete P.T. Usha met here on Friday to finalise the winners of this year's national sports awards.A Sports Ministry official said the Arjuna Awards will be declared in the next couple of days.

Saina, the world's No. 2 Woman player was at her best in the recently concluded three back-to-back tournaments, including two Super Series titles. She  bagged the Indian Open Grand Prix, Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open.

With these three titles in her kitty, Sania leaped to No. 2 spot in the World. Saina is now behind top-ranked Chinese Yihan Wang.

"It’s a surprise that I've been chosen for this prestigious award. It will be a shot in my arm as it's coming just before the World Championships in Aug 23. In fact, the last couple of months were great for me. I have done consistently well this year," said an elated Saina.  

Saina was made the captain of the Indian team for the World Championships. This Arjuna Award winner was the first Indian girl to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics in Beijing and the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.

Last year, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was awarded to Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Sushil Kumar and four-time world champion woman pugilist M.C Mary Kom.