Windfall for Sindhu as the Star Shuttler Basks in Olympic Glory

Hyderabad: A windfall of gifts and cash prizes awaits PV Sindhu, the new star of Badminton after her stupendous performance to win the silver medal in the Rio Olympics.

Telangana Government: The state government will give a cash prize of Rs 1 crore to India’s star shuttler P.V. Sindhu for winning the silver medal at the Rio Olympics. The cash prize is likely to be presented by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to Sindhu after her return from Olympics, official sources said on Friday. Under the new sports policy announced by the state government early this year, a gold medalist at Olympics is entitled for cash prize of Rs 2 crore, while a silver medal winner gets Rs 1 crore. A bronze medalist will get Rs 50 lakh.

Chief Minister Rao congratulated the Hyderabadi girl for winning the silver medal. She became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal and also the first Indian badminton player to achieve the feat. At 21, Sindhu is the youngest Indian to win the medal. In his message, the Chief Minister hailed Sindhu’s victory and described her as the pride of India, especially Telangana. Sports minister T. Padma Rao met Sindhu in Rio and congratulated her on her historic feat. He also congratulated her coach Pullela Gopichand.

Hyderabad District Badminton Association: V Chamundeshwarnath, president of Hyderabad District Badminton Association, has already announced a luxury BMW car for PV Sindhu. He had ealier gifted a BMW to Saina Nehwal when she won a bronze in 2012 and vowed to gift one to Sindhu if she wins a medal. “Before the Rio Olympics started, I had said that if anyone from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh wins a medal I will gift a BMW. I am glad, I will be presenting one to Sindhu soon,’’ said Chamundeshwarnath, who raises the money to buy the luxury cars by seeking donations from businessmen and corporates.

Badminton Association of India (BAI): BAI too announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh for Sindhu and Rs 10 lakh for Gopichand. The All India Football Federation also awarded Rs 5 lakh each for both Sindhu and Sakshi Malik.

Madhya Pradesh Government: The Madhya Pradesh government also announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh for Sindhu, an official said. Congratulating Sindhu for bagging the silver medal, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh.

Congratulatory Messages Continue to Pour-in: Meanwhile, congratulatory messages continue to pour-in for PV Sindhu on her winning the silver medal at the Rio Olympics. President of India Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined people from all walks of the society in greeting the ace shuttler.