Ace shuttler PV Sindhu was awarded a cheque worth Rs 3 crore by the Andhra Pradesh government at a huge felicitation ceremony in Vijayawada on Tuesday.
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The only sane voice in the din made by the two states was that of Sindhu’s mentor Pullela Gopichand who said that “she belongs” to India.
After the civic reception, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will present her a Rs three crore cheque.
Since her major accomplishment, Sindhu has been in the headlines as she became the first woman from the nation to have won a silver medal in Olympics.
Sindhu on her part stated that she would try and bring laurels for the country in future also.
This morning, the Chief Minister announced that Gopichand would be given 15 acres of land in the proposed Sports City in Amaravati for setting up a world class badminton academy.
Chandrababu Naidu played for a few moments with the star shuttler on the dais of a function organised by the state government to felicitate her.
“I used to come to Vijayawada to my grandfather’s house and play shuttle at the indoor stadium here”, she said.
“I am here because of Gopi Sir and his support staff”. My parents and coach encouraged me very well. Many have pointed out that it is time we need to start planning for the next Olympics from now itself and came up with many suggestions.
The chief minister also announced Rs.25 lakh for shuttler Kidambi Srikant, who performed well at the Olympics. Sindhu thanked the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and other State governments, sponsors and people from various walks of lives for supporting her in her long and arduous journey.
The chief minister also felicitated chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy and Gopichand’s wife and former badminton player Srilakshmi on the occasion.
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At the Gannavaram Airport, they were accorded a warm welcome by the state ministers.
