JOIN US Coming to the rescue of his pupil P V Sindhu, who is claimed by both the Telugu-speaking states, coach Pullela Gopichand on Monday said that she belonged to the country and not to a particular region.
“Well, I can only say Sindhu belongs to India,” Gopichand told the media at his badminton academy in Gachibowli area here.
His comments were aimed at putting an end to the ongoing controversy in social media about her domicile status. While a section of the people say that she is from Telangana, as she was born and brought up here, others say she is from Andhra Pradesh as her parents are from the state.
There was also a caste angle to the tussle with certain communities claiming Sindhu’s glory. At the felicitation ceremony, the Telangana ministers claimed Sindhu was a Telangana girl and the pride of Telangana. But ministers from Andhra Pradesh, too, were present at the airport to invite her to their state.
Meanwhile, Gopichand had a word of caution for his student. “I think she is far away from a complete transformation. I believe we have just seen a glimpse of what she is capable of,” said Gopichand.