NRF24L01 won't power up

Question

I'm trying to set PWR_UP bit to 1 for the device to go into standby-I mode using STM32F103RBT6 and HAL libraries. 
 I send (0x20 | 0x00) command (write_reg | config reg) followed by 0x02(PWR_UP = 1) data. Then i wait for 2ms and read the config register. It gives me back the default reset value and ofc PWR_UP bit has not been changed to 1.
Status register shows 0x0E value, which should be the correct reset value. 
 I even used logic analyser and the data is being sent correctly. What am I doing wrong? 
 Thanks for your help.! 
 static void MX_SPI1_Init(void)
{

 /* SPI1 parameter configuration*/
 hspi1.Instance = SPI1;
 hspi1.Init.Mode = SPI_MODE_MASTER;
 hspi1.Init.Direction = SPI_DIRECTION_2LINES;
 hspi1.Init.DataSize = SPI_DATASIZE_8BIT;
 hspi1.Init.CLKPolarity = SPI_POLARITY_HIGH;
 hspi1.Init.CLKPhase = SPI_PHASE_1EDGE;
 hspi1.Init.NSS = SPI_NSS_SOFT;
 hspi1.Init.BaudRatePrescaler = SPI_BAUDRATEPRESCALER_8;
 hspi1.Init.FirstBit = SPI_FIRSTBIT_MSB;
 hspi1.Init.TIMode = SPI_TIMODE_DISABLE;
 hspi1.Init.CRCCalculation = SPI_CRCCALCULATION_DISABLE;
 hspi1.Init.CRCPolynomial = 10;
 if (HAL_SPI_Init(&hspi1) != HAL_OK)
 {
 _Error_Handler(__FILE__, __LINE__);
 }

}

void nrf_Set_Handle(SPI_HandleTypeDef *hspi1, SPI_HandleTypeDef *hspi2) {
	handle1 = hspi1;
	handle2 = hspi2;
}

void nrf_powerUp(void){ // FUNCTION PUTS NRF24L01+ FROM POWER DOWN TO STANDBY I MODE
	uint8_t cmd;
	uint8_t val;
	HAL_GPIO_WritePin(NRF_CSN, GPIO_PIN_RESET);
	HAL_GPIO_WritePin(NRF_CE, GPIO_PIN_RESET);
	cmd = NRF_CMD_W_REGISTER|NRF_CONFIG;
	val = 0x02;
	HAL_SPI_Transmit(handle1,&cmd,1,0);
	HAL_SPI_Transmit(handle1,&val,1,0);
	HAL_GPIO_WritePin(NRF_CSN, GPIO_PIN_SET);
	HAL_Delay(2);
}

void nrf_read_register(void){
	uint8_t cmd;
	uint8_t dummy = 0x00;
	HAL_GPIO_WritePin(NRF_CSN, GPIO_PIN_RESET);
	cmd = NRF_CMD_R_REGISTER|NRF_CONFIG;
	HAL_SPI_Transmit(handle1,&cmd,1,0);
	HAL_SPI_Transmit(handle1,&dummy,1,0);
	HAL_GPIO_WritePin(NRF_CSN, GPIO_PIN_SET);
	HAL_Delay(0.001);
}