Telangana minister's offer: A 'better coach' for Sindhu to win gold in 2020

NEW DELHI: Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu was on Monday made an offer she may well refuse.

Despite reams having been written crediting badminton coach Pullela Gopichand for Sindhu's spectacular performance, Telangana's deputy chief minister offered to gift her "a better coach" for the Tokyo Olympics so that she wins a gold.

"Sindhu is our daughter and she has made us proud. We will now provide her with an additional coach. Her current coach Gopi is good. But we want her to win Gold medals in the upcoming international competitions," deputy CM Mahmood Ali.

Mahmood Ali, the deputy CM, made this unfelicitous offer while he was standing among the thousands who had gathered at the Indira Gandhi International airport in Hyderabad on Monday morning to welcome Sindhu.

Amid scenes of jubilation and loud cheers, Sindhu, accompanied by coach Gopichand, was greeted by her parents -- PV Ramana and P Vijaya - the Telangana deputy chief minister, and some ministers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Later, she waved to the cheering crowds - while displaying the silver medal - from an open-top motorcade at a procession going towards Gachibowli stadium, where the Telangana government had organised a ceremony to felicitate her.

The Telangana government has announced a Rs 5 crore cash reward for the 21-year-old, a 1,000 square yard plot near the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Gachibowli, and a suitable government job, if she wants it.

That, and a new coach, of course.