Sania is only the second tennis player to receive the award. PHOTO: AFP
Tennis star, Sania Mirza, was presented with the India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, on Saturday.
Sania is only the second tennis star in India to receive the award after Leander Paes.
"It great to be recognized and as an athlete of course we play for ourselves and our country," said Sania, while talking to NDTV.
"Awards and honours like these really motivate us to do more and work harder."
She added that it was a humbling experience to be nominated and then win the award.
"I am really humbled to receive this award. I feel extremely honoured and privileged," she added.
"Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the Padma Shri that I got a few years ago because I was in the US open."
When asked what are her future plans she said: "We (me and Martina Hingis) have five tournaments to play in. I have been able to achieve both my goals this year to get to number one and win a grand slam in doubles and I have achieved both."
When questioned about the Rio Olympics, the women's doubles world number one said she is not thinking about the Games yet. "As tennis players, we prepare for the upcoming season. I want to do well in Rio but it is too early to talk about the preparation for the event," said Mirza, quoted Hindustan Times.
"I just set short-term goals and I am not thinking about Rio Olympics. Who knows how I will be in the next few months."
Earlier, the sports ministry’s decision to confer the Khel Ratna to Sania was challenged by Paralympian HN Girisha in the Karnataka High Court.
The Paralympian’s petition was accepted on Wednesday and consequently the ministry was asked to review its decision.
The award is usually conferred on the National Sports Day of India celebrated on August 29.
Read: Sania Mirza nominated for India’s highest sports honour
Girisha, who won the silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics, however, said that he was a more deserving contender of the country’s highest sporting award.
“Going by the ministry’s performance-based points system introduced to pick the award winner, I’m the top contender with 90 points. But Sania does not figure anywhere near the top,” said Hassan-born Girisha.
“I understand Sania has won Grand Slam titles but according to the ministry notification, only performances at the Olympics, Paralympics, Asiad, Commonwealth Games and World Championships from 2011 will be considered.”
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