Indian badminton's new superstar Kidambi Srikanth, whose stature has grown immensely following a phenomenal 2017, was today nominated for the prestigious Padma Shri award by former Sports Minister Vijay Goel. Srikanth became the first Indian and only the fourth shuttler in the world to win four Super Series tournaments in a calender season when he clinched the French Open last week. Goel, who is now Parliamentary Affairs Minister, today wrote a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, recommending Srikanth for the country's fourth highest civilian award.

Indian badminton player Kidambi Srikanth speaks during a press conference in Hyderabad on October 31, 2017. Kidambi has recently won the men's singles Denmark Open Premier Super Series and the French Open Super Series. Pic/AFP