Shuttler Saina Nehwal to receive 2010 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal was on Friday selected for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. The National Sports Award Selection Committee, headed by P T Usha, which met today decided to confer the honour on Nehwal after considering her brilliant performance in the last one year, including winning three back-to-back major titles and reaching a career-high World No. 2 ranking. Nehwal was awarded the Arjuna Award last year and was recently chosen as one of six-brand ambassadors for the Commonwealth Games to be held from October 3-14. In 2008, she won the World Junior Badminton Championships, followed by her first super series title in 2009 in Indonesia . Saina also won a bronze medal at the Asian Badminton championships, and followed it up with the Indian Open Grand Prix. She also won the Singapore Open Super Series, clinched the Indonesian Open once again. Just few weeks ago, she reached the World Number 2 spot in the sport. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award is India 's honour given for outstanding achievement in sports. Named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the award carries a medal, a scroll of honour and a substantial cash component.