India's top sportspersons felicitated in Mumbai - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Several Indian sportspersons were felicitated here at an awards function. Organised by the magazine 'Sports Illustrated;, the event saw many sportspersons including Sachin Tendulkar and Sania Mirza, being felicitated for bringing laurels to the country. Along with the award, Tendulkar was also presented a miniature gold bat in recognition of his double century, the first ever double-ton in One Day International (ODI) cricket against South Africa on February 24. Expressing happiness, Tendulkar said, "It has taken many years for somebody to get a double hundred and it was fantastic feeling the kind of reaction I got. And I'm still getting the reactions; just want to take this opportunity to thank all the people for having reacted so warmly. It feels terrific." Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra was also felicitated with an award. Sania Mirza, who is recovering from a wrist injury, was presented with an award and a miniature gold tennis ball for her recent performance. Receiving the award, Sania Mirza said she was preparing for the Commonwealth Games, which are scheduled in October 2010 in New Delhi. "Of course, to me Commonwealth and Asian Games is the most important thing at the moment. Firstly, it is happening in India and secondly, it is my third Asian Games and first Commonwealth, so I'm really looking forward to it," said Mirza. Mirza had sustained the injury after losing to Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues in the first round of the 2010 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship. However, Mirza was happy with her contribution during the Fed Cup Group II matches in Kuala Lumpur last month, which helped India qualify for Fed Cup's Asia/Oceania Zone Group-I stage.