Both PV Sindhu and Dipa Karmakar came to India amidst fitting grandeur and appreciation.
A day after being felicitated by Telangana government, Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu was, on Tuesday, accorded a rousing welcome by the Andhra Pradesh government for her stupendous performance at the just-concluded Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
A huge crowd lined up the streets of Vijayawada to greet Sindhu as she alongwith her coach Pullela Gopichand embarked on another open-top-motorcade from Gannavaram Airport to Indira Gandhi Stadium.
Dipa Karmakar, who finished a historic fourth in gymnastics at the just concluded Rio Olympics, was given a rousing welcome on her return home, as well. Thousands of people gathered at the Swami Vivekananda stadium waving the tricolour and burst crackers to cheer Dipa, the first Indian woman gymnast to compete in Olympics and the first to do so in 52 years.
Both, PV Sindhu and Dipa Karmakar, will be awarded the highest honour in sports in India, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
(PTI)
1. PV Sindhu, Pullela Gopichand and family with CM Chandrasekhar Rao
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Olympic silver medalist shuttler PV Sindhu with her coach Pullela Gopichand, sister Divya and father PV Ramana meeting Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Hyderabad. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
2. Honorarium
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Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao felicitates PV Sindhu with a Rs 5 crore cheque in Hyderabad. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
3. Thousands to welcome the champion
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PV Sindhu along with her coach Pullela Gopichand waves during a welcome ceremony at Gachibowli stadium in Hyderabad. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
4. KT Rama Rao (L), Bandaru Dattatreya (C) with Sindhu
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PV Sindhu being felicitated by KT Rama Rao, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya at Gachibowli stadium. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
5. Coach BS Nandi with Dipa Karmakar
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Gymnast Dipa Karmakar and her coach BS Nandi being accorded warm welcome upon their arrival at the airport in Agartala, Tripura. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
6. Homecoming
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Dipa Karmakar waves as she stands in a vehicle during her felicitation parade after her return from Rio Olympics, upon her arrival on the outskirts of Agartala. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
7. Felicitation by CM Manik Sarkar
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Dipa Karmakar being felicitated by Tripura CM Manik Sarkar at a reception upon her arrival in Agartala. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
