Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 27, 2020: World champion with a big heart – that’s India’s badminton ace PV Sindhu!
With India battling the COVID-19 outbreak in a 21-day lockdown, the 24-year-old sports superstar stepped forward to do her bit by donating 500,000 Indian rupees each (a total of US$13,300) to two south Indian states – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Sindhu confirmed her decision via a Twitter announcement on March 26.
“I hereby donate an amount of Rs 5,00,000/- each (Rs five lakhs) towards the "Chief Ministers Relief Fund" for the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to fight against COVID-19.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the world sporting calendar and on Tuesday resulted in the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games by the IOC until the summer of 2021 at the latest.
Sindhu, the women’s singles silver medallist at Rio 2016, has been urging the public to stay home and maintain social distancing to avoid the spread of the disease.
“Please stay safe. We are a great nation and in this very difficult time let’s all fight together and overcome this #COVIDー19,” she said in another tweet.
The world No. 6, who is in self-isolation at her home in Hyderabad, has been keeping fit with her home workout routine.
Source: Badminton World Federation