Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that he received badminton star and silver medalist in Rio Olympics PV Sindhu by keeping all protocols aside only with an intention to give the younger players some inspiration. He was speaking during a felicitation programme organised by the State government at Indira Priyadarshini stadium in Vijayawada.

Congratulating Sindhu and her coach Gopichand for achieving the feat, the AP CM recalled the moment when he felicitated Gopichand after wining All England Open Badminton Championship in 2001 during Naidu’s tenure as Chief Minister for united Andhra Pradesh. Later, ace tennis player Sania Mirza was felicitated and followed by many other sportsmen who brought laurels to the country, Naidu said.

Besides the craze for cricket, Chandrababu Naidu said all other sports and games should get prominence equally. Naidu boasted saying that his government was instrumental in setting up sports village, Gachibowli stadium during united AP, only with a view to give encouragement to the budding players.