Vijayawada: Silver medalist in Rio Olympics PV Sindhu on Tuesday went nostalgic recalling her childhood days when she had happened to watch her long time coach Gopichand playing in the indoor stadium here in Vijayawada.
“During my frequent visits to grandfather’s house in the city, I had happened to watch Gopichand sir practicing badminton in the stadium on several occasions,” beamed Sindhu. The memories are still afresh, she said.
Speaking during a felicitation ceremony organised by the AP government at Indira Priyadarshini stadium, Sindhu thanked people for their support and love.
Earlier, India’s chief badminton coach and Sindhu’s mentor Pullela Gopichand said that it is dream come to true for him to receive such a grand reception by the AP government.
“When I was in my 20s, I wondered as to why such grand felicitation was being conducted when bronze medalist Karnam Malleshwari returned from Sydney Olympics in 2000,” Gopichand said. That inspiration drew me to win All England Open Badminton Championship in 2001, he said.
