Will there be a civic reception in honour of the London Olympics bronze medallists – shooter Gagan Narang and shuttler Saina Nehwal – by Government? Saina Nehwal will be home on Tuesday afternoon and Gagan is expected to fly back in the next couple of days.
With the Sports Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar, who was in London during the Olympics and even met some of the athletes there, is not in capital, there is every chance that the reception might be confined to the badminton fraternity with only the Principal Secretary Vasudha Mishra likely to make her presence felt at the airport on the Government behalf.
A.P. Badminton Association secretary K. Ch. Punnaiah Choudhary said Saina would be taken in an open top jeep from the airport to the Gopichand Academy in Gachibowli. “We are keen to ensure a grand reception to her,” he said.
Chief Minister N.Kiran Kumar Reddy had already announced Rs. 50 lakh to Gagan on winning the shooting bronze in London when the latter’s father called on him. It is quite possible that Saina too could expect a similar largesse.
