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PM's accolades for World Champ Sindhu

Last updated on: August 27, 2019 14:32 IST

World Champion PV Sindhu shows her medal as she poses alongside PM Narendra Damodardas Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday

IMAGE: World Champion PV Sindhu shows her medal as she poses alongside PM Narendra Damodardas Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: narendramodi/Instagram

Newly-crowned badminton World Champion PV Sindhu returned to India late on Monday, after her historic victory, and then met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Kiran Rijiju on Tuesday.

"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," the PM wrote on his official Instagram handle.

 

The Olympic silver-medallist, who out-played Japan's Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 in a lop-sided final in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday, earlier addressed the frenzied media at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Monday, saying: "I am really happy, I am very proud of my country. It's a much-awaited win and I am very happy about it."        

Sindhu was also asked about the moment she got emotional after the medal distribution ceremony. 

"I had tears and there were a lot of emotions, it was a great moment for me. Thanks to all my fans for your blessings, your blessings have brought me here," she said.

Sindhu also met Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju who presented her with a cheque of Rs 10 lakh for her historic triumph.

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 P V 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.