Hyderabad, Aug 22 (IANS) Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali triggered a row on Monday by stating that Olympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu will be provided better coaching, so that she wins gold at the next Olympics in Tokyo.
"Sindhu is our daughter. The government will provide a better coach. We are confident that she will win gold medal," he told a television channel.
The Deputy Chief Minister made the remark after receiving Sindhu and her coach Pullela Gopichand on their return to Hyderabad from the Rio Olympics.
His remarks came even as the duo received a grand welcome by their fans and the government felicitated them at a function held at Gachibowli stadium.
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In his speech at the stadium, Ali congratulated both Sindhu and Gopichand. He said Gopichand Academy has produced best results.
But Ali's remarks on better coach were surprising as the Telangana government announced a cash award for Rs 1 crore to Gopichand, who has been coaching Sindhu for the last 15 years.
Ali's comments did not go well with people who took to Twitter to slam him for his gaffe.
Many fans of Gopichand asked the minister to stay quiet. Some suggested that it is the minister who needs proper coaching on how to speak.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also suggested to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's son K. Tarakarama Rao, who is also a minister, to advise Ali not to make such obnoxious statements.
Ali had also courted controversy last year by stating that if the structure of Charminar in Hyderabad turns weak then it will be demolished. He was defending the government's decision to raze dilapidated portion of Osmania General Hospital. He later clarified that he never spoke about demolishing the Charminar.
--IANS
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