Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has told NDTV that his ministry would examine the possibility of recommending ace badminton player Saina Nehwal for the Padma Bhushan award for 2015.

"Saina is one of the greatest badminton players and she has made every Indian proud. My ministry will definitely examine the possibility of sending her name for the awards," Sonowal told NDTV.

The minister, however, took on the Badminton Association of India for what he termed as "not sending the nomination well on time."

"The staff at my bungalow received a packet that had a letter recommending Saina's name, only yesterday. Even my private secretary received an email from Badminton Association yesterday," the minister told NDTV.

The Badminton Association of India's letter, however, was dated August 9, 2014.