As part of its commitment to give financial assistance to needy former players, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has decided to give Rs.2.5 lakh to former national champion Meena Shah.

BAI secretary Vijai Sinha said that a cheque would be handed over to the badminton queen of the 1960s at her residence in Qaiserbagh here Saturday.

Shah, who has been bedridden for several years, dominated the Indian badminton scene for long, winning the women’s singles national championship for seven years in a row (1959-1965) besides winning the women’s doubles title thrice and the mixed doubles crown twice.

Shah was honoured with the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri. She was also conferred with Uttar Pradesh’s prestigious Laxman Award.

Last month, BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta had announced the setting up of a special fund of Rs.25 lakh for the assistance of needy players.