After PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to clinch a silver medal after losing to Carolina Marin in the final of women’s singles badminton at Rio Olympics, there is a competition of other sorts in progress back home. According to media reports, both, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are vying to outdo each other by claiming Sindhu to be the daughter of their state.
Sindhu's father Ramana is from Telangana's Adilabad. And mother Vijaya is from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
According to a report in the NDTV website, at a press conference after the semi-final, in answer to a query about the 'Telugu' girl Sindhu, her mother said she was "India's daughter" and the country is proud of her. ''Why call her Telugu? She is Indian first,'' she had said.
Andhra Pradesh has offered Sindhu Rs. 3 crore, 1000 square yards in its upcoming capital Amaravati and the job of class I officer -- exceeding by far the Rs. 1 crore limit set for cash rewards by the sports department.
Meanwhile, according to a report in The DNA, after chairing a state cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said it has been decided to provide Rs 5 crore cash reward and 1,000 yards of land to Sindhu. Besides KCR also offered the ace shuttler a government job, if she was willing to do.
"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 many 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," Rao told reporters.
