PV Sindhu, the first Indian woman to win an individual Olympic silver medal, received a grand welcome at Hyderabad Airport on her triumphant return on Monday morning.
Sindhu was greeted by a large contingent of waiting dignitaries at the airport, including fellow badminton players and other members of the sports fraternity. Among those gathered to welcome and show their support for the returning badminton star were para-athletes in badminton, Madasu Srinivasa Rao and Anjana Reddy Vannela.
From the airport, Sindhu made her way in an open-top bus to the Gachibowli Sports Stadium, where she took a victory lap around the stadium and was felicitated with mementos and presented with cash awards from the Telangana government and others. Large crowds gathered, not only at the Gachibowli stadium, but also all along the motorcade route to greet the returning champion.
A grand cultural extravaganza with over 20,000 students in attendance was part of the celebrations in the Gachibowli stadium.
Among those attending and speaking at the event at Gachibowli stadium were the Deputy Chief Minister, and IT Minister KT Rama Rao. Sindhu’s coach Pullela Gopichand and Sindhu herself also spoke at the event.
Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar will be presenting a BMW car to Sindhu for bringing laurels to the country.
The BMW car is being sponsored by Tendulkar's close friend and president of Hyderabad Badminton Association of India V Chamundeswaranath.
"Sindhu will be gifted a BMW car by Mr Chamudeswaranath and his friends. Mr Sachin Tendulkar will be presenting the car to Sindhu," said Punnaiah Choudary, BAI Secretary (Tournaments), who had accompanied the team in Rio.
Sindhu made history at the Rio Olympics by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Olympic silver medal.