Vijender Singh, the Indian pugilist, claims he too deserves Padma Bhusan award, after the sports ministry recommended Saina Nehwal's name for the prestigious award.
Nehwal was only recommended after the shuttler expressed some disappointment when Olympian Sushil Kumar's name was proposed for the third highest civilian award in India.
She asked as to why her name was not considered for the award.
But, now on the same lines, Vijender Singh has come forward, demanding his name also to be recommended.
Now, the ball is in the court of the Indian Boxing Federation, as Vijender has made it clear to the concerned authorities, about recommending his name.
"Have told Indian Boxing Federation President to recommend my name to Sports Ministry for Padma Bhushan," he told ANI.
No doubt, Saina deserves such recommendation for this sporting honour for the things that she has achieved in her sport. She has almost won each and everything that is to be won at the international level.
She won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, bronze in 2010 Asian Championships, bronze in 2014 Asian Games.
Along with it, she has won gold medal in a number of super series as well, which includes Indonesian Super Series Premier in 2009, 2010 and 2012, Singapore Super Series in 2010, Hong Kong Super Series in 2010, China Open Series in Premier in 2014 among a list of many titles.
Single-handedly, she placed India in the global map of world badminton, at least in the women's circuit.
If winning medals are the lone criteria for receiving the Padma Bhusan award, Vijender Singh definitely deserves his share as well.
The Indian ace boxer has won a medal in almost all the big events, which includes bronze in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Bronze in 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships, silver in 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, bronze in 2010 Commonwealth Games, along with Asian Games medals.
Vijender does not have anything against Saina receiving the award, but considers he also deserves it. "Saina surely deserves it. But I received Padma Shri in 2010, and still maintain a good performance. So, why not consider me as well?" Vijender told ABP news.
Though, Vijender Singh has been vocal about it to the concerned authorities, it remains to be seen if it is going to be successful.
But, the authorities should not be recommending each and everyone's name who asks for it, else one may find a queue of athletes wanting to receive the award and in the process, the award may lose its importance.
