Now, Vijender Singh too wants a Padma Bhushan award

On a day when the sports ministry recommended Saina Nehwal's name for the Padma Bhushan award, Olympic and World Championship bronze-medallist boxer Vijender Singh has also forwarded his application to the Boxing India (BI) for the country's third-highest civilian honour.

The last-minute move by Vijender has taken the ministry by surprise as it wasn't expecting any other sportsman to apply for this prestigious award. dna has learnt that Vijender submitted his application to the BI on Monday and it has now become a three-way fight between Sushil Kumar, Saina and him.

Talking to dna, Vijender said that if anyone deserves the Padma award, it's the two-time Olympic medallist Sushil. "After him, it's between me and Saina."

Vijender submitted his application to BI president Sandeep Jajodia. "I got the Padma Shri in 2010. As per rules, I'm eligible to be considered for Padma Bhushan. If the ministry can recommend Saina's name, why should I be left behind?" Vijender told dna late on Monday.

However, a sports ministry official told dna that "it's unlikely that the home ministry's award panel will consider both these names --- Saina and Vijender --- as the selection committee has already finalised the names of the awardees.

"Only the intervention of the PMO or the President can work in their favour," the official added. Related report, P16