The absence of proper infrastructure for athletes to train in India has been a major concern over several years now, and no one knows it better than the sportspersons and coaches. Despite the odds, we have stories of bravehearts fighting off the hurdles and bringing glory to the country on the international stage.
Take the Olympics for an example. We are getting inspirational messages from Dipa Karmakar, Sakshi Malik to PV Sindhu, who received major accolades in Rio 2016. Their performance conveys that problems, no matter how big they are, can be turned into opportunities if there is determination.
The good news is that presently, no matter how many instances we come across about the Government not giving proper support to the athletes, some sportspersons differ and thank the government as well as the sports bodies like the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for their constant support.
Sindhu, who became the first-ever badminton player to win a silver medal for India in the Olympics, thanked the Narendra Modi government for its continuous support ahead of the games. "From my point of view, the government has really supported us. I would like to thank Narendra Modiji and also others as well," the 21-year-old shuttler said in an interview to the Times of India, post her Olympics 2016 campaign.
"Before we went to the Olympics, the PM wished us all the very best. Like yesterday, when we all went there, he congratulated each and every awardee. He even said that if we had any suggestions, to let him know. The government has been really very supportive," Sindhu said.
Even Dipa, who stole a billion hearts with her exemplary performance in the women's vault event in Rio 2016, had praised SAI for its continuous support.
Recently, PM Modi announced that the government will form a special task force that would oversee the preparations of the country's athletes for the next three Olympics -- 2020, 2024 and 2028. The step was taken after India's not-so-impressive performance in the Olympics 2016, where a 119-member contingent could bring home just two medals -- through Sindhu and Sakshi
Andhra Pradesh or Telengana, where does PV Sindhu belong?
A question over the hometown of the badminton player has been under debate from various quarters after she won the silver medal. The AP and the Telangana governments are in a tug-of-war calling Sindhu their own. It was in 2014 that a separate state, Telangana was formed, following the division of Andhra Pradesh.
Political parties are still scratching their heads over her home town. But when Sindhu was asked, she gave a balanced answer: "I am an Indian," she told TOI.
