As soon as India's 'golden girl' PV Sindhu won the silver medal at Rio Olympics yesterday, a strange controversy is brewing in the twin Telugu states, with political leaders and even people belonging to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana busy claiming their role in Sindhu's historic victory.
The KCR-led Telangana government is said to be announcing 1 crore to Sindhu after a cabinet meeting, while KTR and K Kavitha have been quite appreciative of the Telangana Bidda's victory.
On the other hand, AP CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu took credit saying that Sindhu's victory is a result of his support to Gopichand by providing him with world-class infrastructure during his reign to cultivate medal winners.
Babu's cabinet has also passed a resolution to award Sindhu with 3 crores cash prize along with 1000 square yards plot in AP capital Amaravati and a Group l officer's post in addition to 50 lakhs and land in Amaravati to set up badminton academy to her coach Gopichand.
And the main reason behind all this controversy about Sindhu being an Andhra Ammayi or a Telangana Bidda is her parents Ramana and Vijayalakshmi, who hail from Nirmal in Telangana and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh respectively.
The couple, sports persons themselves, had a love marriage and raised Sindhu at their Marredpally house. Responding to the ongoing controversy about Sindhu's nativity, her mother Vijayalakshmi requested everyone to forget about her daughter's region and to celebrate the fact that she is an Indian first and foremost.
No matter whether Sindhu is an Andhra Ammayi or a Telangana Bidda, she has made the country proud of her achievements, and politicians, instead of fighting to claim Sindhu's victory, they should support and inspire more young athletes to achieve their dreams just like Sindhu did yesterday.