PV Sindhu left happy and surprised after being named for the Padma Shri award

Pusarla Venkata Sindhu

New Delhi, January 25 (IANS)

Top Indian shuttler P.V. Sindhu was happily surprised when she got to know that she will be conferred India's fourth highest civilian honour – the Padma Shri – and said the award will only motivate her to do better in the future.

“It feels really good. I am really happy to get this award. This will further motivate me to do better and win more matches and tournaments. My family is also very happy. I really did not expect this honour and it comes as a very pleasant surprise,” Sindhu told IANS over the phone from Hyderabad.

Sindhu went back home to Hyderabad from Lucknow Sunday afternoon where she lost the women's singles semi-final to reigning World Champion Carolina Marin of Spain. The two-time World Championship bronze medallist was a bit sad about not being able to go the distance.

The 19-year-old Sindhu along with four others – hockey players Saba Anjum and Sardar Singh, cricketer Mithali Raj and amputee mountain climber Arunima Sinha – were Sunday named by the Indian government as the five sportspersons who would be the recipients of the Padma Shri.

Iconic wrestler-turned-coach Satpal Singh was the only sportsperson to be named for the Padma Bhushan, the country's third highest civilian honour.