Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday announced that his government would allot 15 acres of land in the new capital, Amaravati, to develop a world class badminton academy led by coach Pullela Gopichand.
Participating in a grand felicitation organised by the State government for Rio Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu and her mentor Gopichand here, Mr. Naidu promised to develop sports infrastructure of international standards at Amaravati, near Vijayawada.
“In the new capital we have earmarked space for a sports city in which the academy will come up. It will be one of the best academies in the world,” he said.
Defying protocol, Mr. Naidu received the star shuttler as crackers were burst and Vedic hymns were chanted. He honoured Sindhu and Gopichand with prize money of Rs. 3 crore and Rs. 50 lakh respectively at the concluding day ‘harathi’ ritual of the Krishna Pushkarams.
The Chief Minister announced grant of 1,000 square yards of land at Amaravati and a Group I job in the State government to Sindhu.
Earlier, the medallist and the coach got a rousing welcome, in which thousands of school children from both Krishna and Guntur districts participated. The 6-km stretch from Gannavaram airport to the IGMC stadium was lined with flex banners hailing Sindhu. However, many in the packed stadium were impatient at the three-hour delay in the start of the programme. The Chief Minister also announced a prize of Rs. 25 lakh to Kidambi Srikanth from Guntur district, who lost in the quarter-finals in the men’s singles and Rs. 25 lakh to E. Rajani from Chittoor district, who represented the Indian women’s hockey team at the Olympics. “I am offering a Group II job to both of them,” he said amidst applause.
The Andhra Cricket Association and Telugu Desam Party each donated Rs. 25 lakh to Sindhu and Rs. 10 lakh to Gopi. Real estate company Futureall Homes presented a cheque for Rs.50 lakh to the silver medallist.
Naidu plays with SindhuThe packed stadium applauded as Mr. Naidu played badminton with Sindhu and engaged her in a couple of long rallies. He also tweeted – “Tried my hand at badminton against Sindhu, silver medallist at Rio Olympics 2016”.
