'Sportsperson of the Year' award goes to...

PV Sindhu

IMAGE: Badminton coach Pullela Gopichand being felicitated by badminton player PV Sindhu and actress Tapsee Pannu during the Sportsperson of the Year charity gala awards in Mumbai on Thursday night. Photograph: PTI

Rio Olympics silver medallist P V Sindhu was bestowed with the Sportsperson of the Year award during the 'Maruti Suzuki Sportsperson of the Year' Charity Gala Awards on Thursday night.

The awards have been initiated by Sports Illustrated India Magazine and were given to various sportspersons for their achievements.

PV Sindhu with Deepa Malik

IMAGE: PV Sindhu, left, with Deepa Malik. Photograph: Twitter

Sindhu's coach P Gopichand received the Coach of the Year award while the Flying Sikh Milkha Singh was given the Living Legend of the Year award. However, Milkha could not attend the function.

Interestingly it was Sindhu who presented the award to ‘Gopi Sir'.

Young India cricketer K L Rahul, who made a mark in the last Test series against Australia, was awarded with Gamechanger of the Year award. Rahul was not at the function and his video message was shown.

Abhinav Bindra

IMAGE: Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra after receiving the lifetime achievement award. Photograph: PTI

2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist and the country's sole gold medal winner in individual events at Olympics, Abhinav Bindra was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bindra, on a lighter note, said that at 34 he felt a little odd to receive it.

"As a 12-year-old boy, I hated sports. I had one talent that is to work hard," remarked the ace shooter.

Jwala Gutta