New Delhi: India’s sports ministry presented a cash award of Rs.25 lakh to Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal as a reward for her outstanding performance by reaching the women’s singles final of the All England Open Badminton Championships in March.
Saina was the first Indian woman to reach the final of the tournament. However, she failed to create Indian history when she went down 21-16, 14-21 and 7-21 in an hour and two minutes against world champion Carolina Marin. Saina had lost in the All England semifinals in 2010 and 2013. That was Saina’s first defeat against the Spaniard in four meetings.
“The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has given a cash award of Rs.25 lakh to Ms. Saina Nehwal, badminton player, for her runner-up position in All England Open Badminton Championship 2015 held in Birmingham (United Kingdom) from 8-13 March 2015,” said in a government statement.
“Cash Award has been given to Ms. Nehwal from the ministry’s scheme of special awards to medal winners in international sports events and their coaches.”
Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand had won the men’s singles title of the All England tournament in 1980 and 2001, respectively.
