It’s Gold rush for silver girl Sindhu

It’s raining awards and rewards for the youngest Indian individual Olympic medallist Pusarla Venkata Sindhu. The Hyderabadi girl, on Friday, became the first Indian woman to bag an Olympic silver medal after she missed out on the gold going down in the women’s singles final to Spain’s Marin Carolina 21-19, 12-21, 15-21.

The Olympian is set to receive the Khel Ratna and to commemorate her achievement the Telangana government will be awarding her a reward of Rs 5 crore and 1,000 square yard house site as well. 

“There is a need to encourage sports personalities. Like Sania Mirza, who brought laurels by winning several tournaments after encouragement by the government, we hope Sindhu will also bring laurels by winning many more tournaments in the future. She is coming to Hyderabad on August 22. The Cabinet has decided to accord her a grand reception,” said Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

The Delhi government announced Rs 1 crore as an award to Olympic bronze-medallist Sakshi Malik and Rs 2 crore to Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu. The Delhi government also offered a promotion to Malik’s father who works in the Delhi Transports Corporation.

Furthermore, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited announced a cash reward of Rs 75 lakh and said they would be promoting Sindhu. Olympian PV Sindhu has been associated with Bharat Petroleum as a 14-year-old promising talent and joined it in July 2013. She is currently posted as Assistant Manager (Sports) at their Hyderabad office and will be promoted to the post of Deputy Manager. 

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) will be rewarding Sindhu with a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh for her exemplary effort in Rio to take Indian badminton to further heights.

BAI president Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta, praising Sindhu, said: “I congratulate her for this historical achievement and bringing laurels for India. This is a huge milestone in Indian badminton fraternity and it shows the strength of Indian badminton at the world stage. This silver medal will surely motivate lakh of children to take up the sport and inspire them perform above their ability. On behalf of BAI and Indian badminton fraternity, I am congratulating her again for the marvellous achievement.”

 BAI has also announced an award of Rs 10 lakh for Sindhu’s coach and Padma Bhushan Pullela Gopichand, who is also responsible for the rise of shuttlers like Saina Nehwal, Rio Olympics quarter-finalist Kidambi Srikanth along with several others. The Madhya Pradesh government has also announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh to the Olympic silver medallist. Further, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced cash awards of Rs 5 lakh to both Sindhu and bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and AIFF president Praful Patel tweeted: “AIFF Media expresses its support and solidarity to the sporting fraternity for doing India proud. We award Rs five lakh each to Sindhu and Sakshi.” 

In another congratulatory message he said: “They make us proud. Their achievements inspire the entire nation.” On a lighter note, a pizza joint came up with a quirky idea to celebrate Sindhu’s historic victory and on Saturday, offered a free pan pizza to anyone who shared the name of the star shuttler. 

On the other hand, president of Hyderabad District Badminton Association V Chamundeshwarnath will gift a BMW to Sindhu just like he had gifted Saina Nehwal on her bronze medal four years ago. Also, a Vijayawada-based top jewellery showroom chain is set to sign up Sindhu as its brand ambassador.