NEW DELHI: World’s top Tennis star and wife of Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib malik Tennis star Sania Mirza was presented with the India’s highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, on Saturday.
Sania is only the second tennis star in India to receive the award after Leander Paes.
It great to be recognized and as an athlete of course we play for ourselves and our country,” said Sania, while talking to NDTV.
“Awards and honours like these really motivate us to do more and work harder.”
She added that it was a humbling experience to be nominated and then win the award.
“I am really humbled to receive this award. I feel extremely honoured and privileged,” she added.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the Padma Shri that I got a few years ago because I was in the US open.”
When asked what are her future plans she said: “We (me and Martina Hingis) have five tournaments to play in. I have been able to achieve both my goals this year to get to number one and win a grand slam in doubles and I have achieved both.”
Earlier, the sports ministry’s decision to confer the Khel Ratna to Sania was challenged by Paralympian HN Girisha in the Karnataka High Court.
The Paralympian’s petition was accepted on Wednesday and consequently the ministry was asked to review its decision.
The award is usually conferred on the National Sports Day of India celebrated on August 29.
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