Saina supports Sania and then says Telengana has still not paid her cash reward

As the uproar over Sania Mirza being called the ‘daughter-in-law of Pakistan’ continues, badminton star and Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal is complaining about not being paid the cash-award promised to her by the Hyderabad government.

It comes as a surprise that Nehwal took this moment to remind people that she has not been paid her prize-money because the two events don’t really have a link with each other.

“I am happy to know that Sania Mirza has become the brand ambassador of Telengana and I am proud of Telengana but I am very hurt and sad that I have still not received the cash award from my state for the Olympic bronze medal that I won for my country,” Saina tweeted out in two separate posts.

https://twitter.com/NSaina/status/492317588043485184

https://twitter.com/NSaina/status/492318017817042944

According to Forbes India, and as of January last year, Nehwal has a personal fortune worth Rs 13.17 crore. Add to this the $120,000 dollars she commanded at the inaugural Indian Badminton League in 2013.

Saina’s is not the only case of governments not fulfilling promises of awards after athletes win medals — boxer Mary Kom and a number of para-athletes have also faced the same issue.

While there is nothing wrong about Nehwal pointing out that she hasn’t been paid yet, linking the issue to that of Sania Mirza seems like a rather odd decision.