Did not stake claim to Padma: Vijender

New Delhi, Jan 6: Rubbishing media reports that boxer Vijender Singh, akin to shuttler Saina Nehwal, had staked claim to the Padma Bhushan, the Olympic bronze medallist Tuesday said he had only spoken to Boxing India (BI) officials seeking information about the award criteria. Reports were rife in a section of the media during the day that Vijender had demanded that his name be nominated for the country's third-highest civilian award -- a day after fellow Olympic bronze medallist Nehwal was recommended for the prestigious award by the sports ministry "as a special case". "I have neither written or spoken to anyone from the sports ministry about this. I have only sought the criterion for the award from Boxing India," Vijender told IANS. "Boxing India told me to submit my credentials to them and said we will try for you. Now it is up to the federation to decide what to do...."