BMWs and Khel Ratna award - our Olympians had a good week.
Accolades continued to pour on the trio of PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik and Dipa Karmakar, all of whom were, on Sunday, presented luxury cars for their Olympic performance by cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, who lauded their efforts as the beginning of a wonderful journey for Indian sports.
Hyderabad District Badminton Association president Chamundeshwarnath gifted BMW cars to the three girls along with badminton coach Pullela Gopichand for their achievements in the recently-concluded Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Tendulkar, who was the Goodwill Ambassador of the Indian team at Rio Olympics, handed over the keys at a function held at the Gopichand Badminton Academy, in Hyderabad.
"We are extremely proud of you, we all are praying for you, we all support you now that you have said you want to convert bronze into gold and silver into gold (in the next Tokyo Olympic games)," he said referring to the medals won by Sakshi and Sindhu.
The Sports Ministry last Monday announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna will be conferred upon four athletes with Olympic medallists Sindhu and Sakshi set to be honoured alongside trail-blazing gymnast Dipa Karmakar and ace shooter Jitu Rai.
Here are some of the photographs from the felicitation and the award distribution ceremony.
(With Agency Inputs)
1. Sindhu speaks at the felicitation
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Olympics silver medalist shuttler PV Sindhu speaks as bronze winning wrestler Sakshi Malik and gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who won everyone's heart with her performance, look on at a felicitation function at Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad on Sunday. Sindhu, Malik and Karmakar were presented BMW cars at the function. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
2. Olympians with the God of cricket
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"In company of champs who proved their mettle @Pvsindhu1 @SakshiMalik @DipaKarmakar & super coach #PullelaGopichand" - Sachin Tendulkar's message read when he tweeted this photograph. (Photo courtesy - Twitter)
3. Words from Goodwill Ambassador
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Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar speaks at a felicitation function to honor Rio Olympics silver medalist shuttler P V Sindhu and bronze winner grappler Sakshi Malik, gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who won everyone's heart with her performance, and badminton coach Pullela Gopichand. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
4. Olympians with Sachin Tendulkar and their BMWs
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Hyderabad District Badminton Association president Chamundeshwarnath gifted BMW cars to the three girls along with badminton coach Pullela Gopichand for their achievements. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
5. Modi with PV Sindhu
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses with Olympic Medal Winner shuttler PV Sindhu with her silver medal in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
6. PV Sindhu (L) and Sakshi Malik with Modi
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses with Olympic Medal Winners shuttler PV Sindhu (L) and wrestler Sakshi Malik in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
7. Modi with all the Khel Ratna Awardees
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses with Olympic medal winners, Khel Ratna Awardees. The players are silver medallist shuttler PV Sindhu (2L), bronze medal winning wrestler Sakshi Malik (2R), gymnast Dipa Karmakar (R) and ace shooter Jitu Rai. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
8. Awardees with Modi and Vijay Goel
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Narendra Modi and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Vijay Goel pose for a photograph with all the Khel Ratna Awardees. (Photo courtesy - Twitter)
