Prashanti Singh, one of the most successful shooting guards and Arjuna awardee, has added another feather to her cap. The Varanasi-born Prashanti is in the list of Padma Shri awardees this year. Ask this basketball player on how it feels to be awarded the Padma Shri at such a young age and she says, "Padma Shri being given to me is unexpected! It came as a pleasant surprise. Matlab ki ek hota hai expecting, but this time I wasn’t even aware that I have been nominated for Padma Shri simply because I didn’t fill any form for it. So jab form hi nahi bhara toh how will I even expect to be conferred with it. Also, I didn’t know that I was even eligible for a Padma Shri. My name was actually recommended by several people and that is how I got the award. Since Padma Shri is a civil award, I had no idea about how to get it, how to apply for it, how is a person chosen, so kahin door-door tak socha hi nahi iss bare mein maine kabhi." Prashanti Singh in Varanasi (BCCL/ Unmesh Pandey)So how did she first come to know about the award we wonder? "I was sitting comfortably in my house with the new addition to my family, my lhasa apso, Happu Singh," shares Prashanti.Prashanti Singh with her Arjuna Award (BCCL)"Only the two of us were in the house as everyone else had gone to a wedding. And suddenly, in the night around 8 pm on Friday I got a call from Shailendra bhaiya from Lucknow and phone uthate hi said ‘Congratulations Padma Shri’. So I thought he is joking. It didn’t even occur to me even once regarding the reference of the title. He then sent me a list of awardees on Whatsapp. Par mujhe tab bhi yakeen nahi hua. I then went on google and checked it. Fir bhi yakeen nahi hua. And finally I saw my name flashing on a news channel and tab jaa ke yeh feeling sink in hui that aisa ho gaya hai," she says, adding, "Poore shehar ko pata tha aur main ghar mein anjaan se baithi hui thi. My brother-in-law Ishant Sharma and my brother Vikrant Solanki were the happiest of the lot though the whole family is in a mood of celebrations now. My immediate and extended family everyone is so happy with the achievement," shares an elated Prashanti. Adding, "Mujhe jo awards and recognition late mili hai apni field mein, jisko leke main hamesha complain karti rehti hoon, I think yeh award un sab cheezon ka collective interest hai. I always feel, for athletes especially, that they should get their dues on time. Uss ka maza hi alag hota hai. When we are in a competitive field toh these awards act as an encouragement and motivation."So what next? "Well, now I will be heading to Delhi wherein I will be briefed about the ceremony. I am really looking forward to the day when I will be given the award by the President," says Prashanti, signing off excitedly.

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