Rio 2016: BAI announces cash awards for 'Silver' Sindhu, Coach Gopichand

New Delhi, Aug 19: Badminton Association of India (BAI) President Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta on Friday announced a cash award of Rs 50 lakh for shuttler PV Sindhu, who scripted history by bagging the silver in women's singles competition at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Das Gupta also announced an award of Rs. 10 lakh for national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, who trained Sindhu to achieve this feat.

The World No. 10 Indian lost to Spain's Carolina Marin 21-19, 12-21, 15-21 in the thrilling Final held at Riocentro.

(Kudos to Pullela Gopichand for giving India champion PV Sindhu)

This is India's first silver medal in badminton. Saina Nehwal won the first medal - bronze - for India in badminton in the 2012 London Olympics.

(Twitterati hail PV Sindhu's achievement)

"I also congratulate coach P Gopichand who again took India to new heights. Padma Bhushan Gopichand brought many laurels in his playing days and now his players are achieving new feats. Indian Badminton fraternity is very lucky to have a coach and mentor like him," he added.