New Delhi : Top Indian shuttler P.V. Sindhu was happily surprised when she got to know that she will be conferred India’s fourth highest civilian honour – the Padma Shri — and said the award will only motivate her to do better in the future.
“It feels really good. I am really happy to get this award. This will further motivate me to do better and win more matches and tournaments. My family is also very happy. I really did not expect this honour and it comes as a very pleasant surprise,” Sindhu told IANS over the phone from Hyderabad.
Sindhu went back home to Hyderabad from Lucknow Sunday afternoon where she lost the women’s singles semi-final to reigning World Champion Carolina Marin of Spain. The two-time World Championship bronze medallist was a bit sad about not being able to go the distance.
The 19-year-old Sindhu along with four others — hockey players Saba Anjum and Sardar Singh, cricketer Mithali Raj and amputee mountain climber Arunima Sinha — were Sunday named by the Indian government as the five sportspersons who would be the recipients of the Padma Shri.
Iconic wrestler-turned-coach Satpal Singh was the only sportsperson to be named for the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian honour.