Will work harder and win many more medals: Sindhu
| Date :28-Aug-2019 |
NEW DELHI : INDIA’S first badminton world champion PV Sindhu was welcomed exuberantly on her return to the country but she said the feeling is yet to sink in given her hectic schedule since the triumph. The Olympic silver-medallist, who out-played Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 in a lop-sided final of the big event in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday, was mobbed at the airport after she touched down with national coach Pullela Gopichand by her side on Monday night here. Despite the hectic schedule, the 24-year-old had a smile on her face as she acknowledged supporters and the media at the airport. “I am really happy, I am very proud of my country. It’s a much-awaited win and I am very happy about it,” she said in response to a barrage of questions that were thrown at her.
“It hasn’t yet sunk in and we didn’t get much time to celebrate because I had to come back early after the match and then next day take a flight back to India,” she added. The Hyderabadi has had little time to reflect since her historic achievement. She had meetings lined up with Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the day. “I will work more hard and win many more medals,” she said on questions about the plans from now given that the Olympics is less than a year away. Sindhu was also asked about the moment she got emotional after the medal distribution ceremony in Basel.
PV meets PM
NEW DELHI : NEWLY-CROWNED badminton world champion PV Sindhu on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called her India’s pride. The Hyderabadi had won two silvers and an equal number of bronze medals in the previous editions. “India’s pride, a champion who has brought home a Gold and lots of glory! Happy to have met @Pvsindhu1.
Congratulated her and wished her the very best for her future endeavours,” Modi tweeted after the meeting. Sports Minister presents Rs 10 lakh cheque to Sindhu: SPORTS Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday presented a Rs 10 lakh cheque to PV Sindhu for her historic triumph at the World Championships in Basel, Switzerland. Olympic silver medallist Sindhu called on the sports minister following her arrival here. The Hyderabadi had defeated Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in a lop-sided World Championships final on Sunday. Also present on the occasion were Badminton Association of India president Himanta Biswa Sarma, coaches Pullela Gopichand and Kim Ji-Hyun and Sindhu’s father PV Ramana, a former bronze medallist in volleyball at the 1986 Asian Games.
The interaction lasted for over an hour. The minister also extended his congratulations to Sai Praneeth besides rewarding him with a cheque of Rs 4 lakh for winning a bronze medal at the championships, India’s first men’s singles medal at the worlds since Prakash Padukone’s feat in 1983.