Anurag Thakur the sports minister of India on Tuesday praised PV Sindhu as a sporting icon and also said she is one of the “greatest Olympians” the country has ever produced. After winning the bronze-medal match, she received a warm welcome as she returned to the country.
It was on Sunday where PV Sindhu became the second Indian and also the first woman from the country to secure two Olympic medals after winning the bronze medal in Tokyo 2021. It was 5 years before that she won the silver medal at Rio Games.
India’s PV Sindhu who is 26 years old from Hyderabad received a warm welcome as she returned to the country on Tuesday.
“PV Sindhu is amongst India’s greatest Olympians. she is India’s icon, inspiration and has caught the imagination of every Indian who dreams of playing for the country”, Thakur said after facilitating Sindhu and Korean coach Park Tea -Sang here.
“Her incredible achievement-that of winning two Olympic medals in two consecutive Olympic Games will inspire a generation of budding athletes. Her success shows how the Target Olympic Podium scheme of the government has nurtured our Olympic hopefuls towards a podium finish”.
“I would like to thank each one of my fans because of the support and though we played without fans in the stadium, I am sure billions have supported me from India and this success is the result of their wishes”, Sindhu said.
“I would like to thank my parents for their constant support and sacrifices and my coach for working with me and making this dream come true”.
Finance minister Nirmal Sitharaman Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Development of North-Eastern Region G Krishan Reddy and Minister of State of Youth Affairs and Nisith Pramanik also felicitated PV Sindhu for her exceptional achievement.
Ravi Mittal the sports secretary and PV Sindhu’s parents were also present at the felicitation event.
PV Sindhu is earlier is received at the Indira Gandhi International airport by Badminton Association of India (BAI) general secretary Ajay Singhania, who also felicitated her and her coach at the airport.
PV Sindhu is the second athlete to return home after winning the medal in this ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The first medal came from Mirabai Chanu India’s weightlifter who won 49 kg class silver on July 24.
Lovlina Borgohain who is sure to get a medal in the 69 kg category will compete against Busenaz Surmeneli from Turkey in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
