Ace wrestler Sushil Kumar on Monday said he welcomed the sports ministry's decision to recommend Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal's name for the Padma Bhushan.

"All we need is the blessing of the people. I would like to congratulate Saina. The decision of the Sports Minister is very good," Sushil told media persons here.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports forwarded Saina's name to the Home Ministry, after receiving her nomination from the Badminton Association of India, overlooking the fact that the last day for nominations was September 15, 2014.

The ace shuttler had earlier expressed disappointment over the Sports Ministry's move to recommend wrestler Sushil Kumar for the award and not her.

Saina had said that she would have felt proud if the government had conferred the award to both Sushil Kumar and herself.