New Delhi : Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports M.S. Gill gave away Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2010 to badminton star Saina Nehwal at a ceremony here on Monday.
As Nehwal was in Paris taking part in World Championship when the National Sports Awards were conferred by the Indian President on Aug 29, she could not receive the award on that occasion.
In view of this, the award was conferred on her on Monday.
The award carries a medal, citation and cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh .
Nehwal is among the outstanding badminton players ranking 2nd in the world.
She has won the Indonesia Super Series ,2010, Singapore Open super Series,2010 , Indian Open Grand Prix,2010 , Indonesia Super Series,2009, and Indian Open Grand Prix,2009 .
She was Semi finalist in 2009 BWF World Championship and Semi finalist in ALL England Super Series, 2010 .
She won gold medal in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games 2010.
She was awarded Arjuna Award in 2009.