Mumbai: The Indian Sports Ministry has decided to recommend badminton ace Saina Nehwal for Padma Bhushan in 2015. But it is not known whether this comes as a reaction after the shuttler hit back at the ministry for ignoring her twice and choosing wrestler Sushil Kumar, already a Padma Shri awardee.

On Sunday, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in an interview to NDTV had expressed interest in referring the shuttler’s name but complained that they received the application, from Badminton Association of India (BAI), late.

“The staff at my bungalow received a packet that had a letter recommending Saina's name, only yesterday. Even my private secretary received an email from Badminton Association yesterday,” he said.

But Sonowal could not defend when asked why Sushil (who received Padma Shri in 2011) was chosen for the second time considering a Padma awardee cannot be nominated for a higher category within five years