KCR gifts Sindhu ₹5 crore, promises new sports policy
FollowInspired by the spectacular performance of Hyderabad's badminton player PV Sindhu in the Rio Olympics, the Telangana government is mulling over a new sports policy, with the objective of identifying and training hidden talents in the new state.
Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) disclosed this after honouring Sindhu with a cheque for ₹5 crore this evening at his camp office in Hyderabad.
After an unprecedented reception organised by the state government and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Sindhu, along with her guru Pullela Gopichand, called on the CM.
The CM appreciated Sindhu's marvellous performance at Rio, which he said uplifted the spirit of the nation. He also congratulated Gopichand for producing players of world standard.
"There is talent everywhere in the state, especially in rural Telangana. We will soon bring about a new sports policy with the objective of identifying such talents and hone them to an international level," he said, presenting another cheque for ₹1 crore to Gopichand, who runs a badminton academy in Hyderabad.
He said he would appoint a consultative committee with sportsmen of repute to guide the state in formulating the new sports policy.
The CM also handed over a cheque for ₹25 lakh each to Sindhu's physiotherapist Challangundla Kiran and another player Srikanth.
Expressing dismay that the current marks-oriented education system had destroyed a spirit for sports among students, KCR assured that efforts would be made to recreate a sports ecology by setting up grounds and stadia at the mandal level.
