Olympic silver medalist and World men's javelin champion Julius Yego on Friday told reporters in Nairobi that he is among those who had been contacted by the department to investigate the fiasco in the Kenyan team that has stolen the thunder from their best ever performance at the Games,reports Xinhua news agency.

"We are only going to give our grievances. Most athletes are yet to arrive so it's only a few of us that have been called. I think at the end of the day it's only a resolution-seeking move," Yego said.

The development came barely 24 hours after the country's Sports Minister Hassan Wario disbanded the National Olympic Committee-Kenya (NOCK) whose headquarters remained locked on Friday as investigations ordered by the country's President Uhuru Kenyatta into the scandals that rocked the team before, during and after the quadrennial event stepped up a notch.

NOCK and sports ministry officials have come under fire after claims of athletes being mistreated, the presence of a huge number of joy riders in Rio and the alleged selling off of the official kit from American firm Nike surfaced.

The Kenyan team was further thrown into disarray when the track and field manager Major (Rtd) Michael Rotich and sprints coach John Anzrah, were expelled from the Games by Wario with the former caught on tape soliciting for bribes to inform bogus athletes when drug testers were due to come.

Anzrah was caught impersonating an athlete, Ferguson Rotich (men 800 meter runner), who was due for an out of competition drug test although it later emerged he had 'borrowed' his accreditation badge to get free breakfast inside the Olympics Village.

"Unnecessary sideshows dampened the spirits of the team as alleged mismanagement of the team and perennial problem of missing kit came up. NOCK officials assured the kit, accommodation was in place," Wario said when disbanding NOCK.

Their Nairobi headquarters remained locked with no officials or staff present despite Nock Secretary General, Francis K Paul, stressing they would continue operations despite the dissolution order from the minister.

"In fact, the IOC called me first because they've seen what's been happening and I explained to them about the ministry's decision to disband the committee, so I'm waiting for their call later on Friday.

"Once other NOCK officials arrive from Rio, we will set a meeting either on Saturday or Sunday and compile a report that we shall present to the IOC. In regards to why our offices are locked, I am the only available since everyone else went to Rio, and we will be in the office come next Monday," Paul said.

The ministry's decision to disband the committee came after pressure mounted from public anger on heads to roll following the debacle that rocked Team Kenya at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Wario handed Nock's responsibilities on interim basis to Sports Kenya that is now faced with the task of adopting a new constitution and setting the election calendar.

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"We are very happy that our proposal for the formation of such a team with refugees was accepted and the athletes will participate in the Rio Games. We feel very happy that our own 'child' Ibrahim al Hussein will see his dream becoming reality," Hellenic Paralympic Committee President Yorgos Fountoulakis said in a statement on Friday.

The press announcement was made shortly after the official announcement of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) that al Hussein will take part in the Games forming the Independent Team with Shahrad Nasajpour, an Iranian refugee athlete currently living in the US.

It is for the first time that such a team will compete at the Paralympic Games, following in the footsteps of the refugee athletes who took part earlier this August in the Summer Olympics with the support of the International Olympic Committee.

Al Hussein came into the spotlight last April when he represented the refugees carrying the Olympic Flame inside a refugee camp in Athens a few hours before the handover ceremony to the Brazilian hosts of the Summer Olympics and the upcoming Paralympics.

In Rio, he will compete in swimming in the men's 50m and 100m freestyle S10 (provisional) as a leg amputee with his Greek coach Eleni Kokkinou by his side.

Al Hussein lost part of his leg during a bombing in 2012. He was hospitalised for a year in Turkey before crossing the Aegean Sea to Samos island in 2014, where he requested asylum in Greece.

"I have been dreaming of this for 22 years. I thought my dream had gone when I lost my leg but now it is back for real. I can't believe I am going to Rio. I want to send a message to all those injured that they too can achieve their dreams," the Para athlete said.

His presence at the Games along Nasajpour will help raise awareness of the plight of the millions of refugees and asylum seekers and spread the Paralympic values of courage and determination.

The two refugees will march first at the opening ceremony of the Rio Paralympic Games on September 7.

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The 32-year-old has also been issued with a court summons, according to a statement from Brazil's civil police, reports Xinhua.

Even if Lochte is not present at the court hearing, he could be tried and faces a penalty of up to 18 months in jail.

In a statement, Lochte said he was with fellow US swimmers James Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger when their taxi was stopped by thieves posing as police.

The athletes were returning to the Olympic Village after celebrating the end of the swimming competition at the Rio Games, according to Lochte.

But police accuse the swimmers of fabricating the story, claiming the swimmers were in fact confronted by security guards after they vandalized a gas station.

Lochte left Brazil before police were able to question him about the incident.

Bentz and Conger were stopped by federal police from boarding a plane at Rio's international airport on August 17.

Feigen agreed to donate nearly $11,000 to a Brazilian charity to avoid charges.

Lochte has lost several sponsors in the past week, including sportswear manufacturer Speedo. But Pine Bros Softish Throat Drops said it had signed an endorsement deal with the swimmer on Friday.

Lochte has won six Olympic gold medals, including one in Rio for his victory with the US 4x200 metre freestyle relay team.

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The 22-year-old won Brazil's first ever Olympic pole vault gold medal beating France's defending champion Renaud Lavillenie with an Olympic record leap of 6.03 metres, reports Xinhua.

"This is really important to me. I want to thank all of the people that have helped me throughout my career. The gold medal was also for Rio's public, who helped me so much," Da Silva said on Thursday after receiving the gift from Sao Paulo-based club BM&FBOVESPA.

Da Silva said he owed his start as a professional pole vaulter to Brazil's former world champion Fabiana Murer.

"When I came here in 2009 I didn't have a contract and she sponsored me, allowing me to stay in the team and in Sao Paulo," Da Silva said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Murer announced her retirement from the sport on Thursday after failing to advance beyond the first round at the Rio Olympics.

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"The foundation will transfer funds to the Russian Olympic Committee to provide financial assistance to our leading athletes, members of our national track and field team banned from the Games by the IOC," Medvedev said on Thursday, reports Tass.

"We believe that will be the right decision. We have no doubt that, but for this unfair decision (to ban athletes from competitions), they would have succeeded making a significant contribution to our total medals count," the Prime Minister added.

Medvedev congratulated Russian athletes who won medals at the Olympics and handed them keys to brand new off-road vehicles as a reward.

This year Olympians' Support Fund provided the BMW vehicles for the athletes. Olympic gold winners received BMW X6 luxury models, silver medal winners got BMW X5s and bronze medallists took home BMW X3s.

"This is so superb that you took our country to the fourth place in the overall medal standings having repeated the result of the 2012 Olympic Games in London," Medvedev said.

"Moreover, you have achieved this result under extremely complicated circumstances and amid an unprecedented pressure, which was exerted on our national team, on our whole sports society and on our country.

"No matter how hard some people tried, but they failed to foil the Olympics for Russia and you have managed to prove that our victories have nothing to do with doping or other sins, which some people periodically attempt to attribute to us," he added.

Medvedev also said he was confident that Russian athletes would have more victories at the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

"Our common hope now is for the 2020 Olympic Games," Medvedev said.

"I am sure that we will win there more medals and our national squad will be a competitive and powerful team."

Russia ended 2016 Rio Games fourth in the overall medal standings having won 19 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze.

All Russian track and field athletes, except for long jumper Darya Klishina, the Russian weightlifting team and rowers, were barred from the Games by their respective international federations.

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In an effort to ensure that India does better in subsequent Olympics, Local Circles, a citizen engagement platform, conducted a countrywide survey on the problems being faced in improving as a sporting nation and what can be done to better performances in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Olympic level athletes are not built overnight, it is a continuous process and requires time and effort.

Sport bodies are expected to identify the right talent, at the right age, support and train them to Olympic level. Unfortunately, our sport bodies are not able to do this with the same rigour, barring a few exceptions like badminton.

The reason is that most sporting bodies are led by non-sportsmen and bureaucrats who have never played at the international level. The politicisation of Indian sports is the root cause for the country not being able to create world class athletes. People are also tired of the political interference in sports.

Therefore, the revealed that the the obvious way forward is to revamp the country's sports bodies. World-class sportsmen need to be inducted at all levels so that they can help build a culture that promotes, trains and builds world-class talent.

An overwhelming majority of 86 percent people said that sport bodies should be headed and controlled by sportspersons. This clearly shows that if India wants that to prepare for the next Olympics we should begin with restructuring our sport bodies.

Corruption was another issue that is endemic in sport bodies due to political interference, nepotism and lack of performance measures. A poor performance in the Olympics does not lead to any action against the incumbents due to nepotism. Ninety-two percent of those polled said corruption is very high in state sports departments and bodies. This perception may also be the reason that most people do not see sports as a worthwhile option for their children.

Of those polled, 89 percent felt that the government has not done much to make sports popular in the country. This perception also fuels the charge that the government does not make enough efforts in promoting performance and merit in sport per-se.

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Xi said the Chinese athletes and coaches have demonstrated the Olympic spirit and the spirit of Chinese sports with their brilliant performances at the Rio Olympic Games and they have brought glory to the country and helped raise the nation's confidence.

Also present at the meeting were Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Chinese women's volleyball team put a perfect ending to China's Olympic campaign, beating Serbia 3-1 to win the coveted gold medal which China last won in 2004.

China swept 26 gold, 18 silver and 26 bronze medals at Rio, ranking among the top three on the medal or gold medal tally.

"You have written a new chapter in Chinese sports history," Xi told the Chinese contingent.

Xi praised the Chinese Olympians for being "goodwill envoys" during their exchanges with athletes from all over the world, as well as with international sports organisations.

He also hailed the Chinese Olympians as great athletes with sporting morals and role models for the Chinese youth.

The Chinese President also praised those athletes who didn't win medals but had tried their best.

On the Chinese women's volleyball team, Xi said: "The whole nation is excited at China's first volleyball gold in 12 years."

"The Chinese women's team feared no one and played to their best."

Xi also urged the organisers to host "fantastic, extraordinary and excellent" Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2022.

"I hope China will take the preparation for and hosting of the 2002 Winter Olympics and Paralympics as a great opportunity to advance our sports development," he said.

The President concluded his speech with well-known slogans: "Go athletes! Go Team China! Go China!"

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Hyderabad, Aug 25 (IANS) Basking in Olympic glory, star shuttler Pusarla Venkata Sindhu has now set her eyes on the World Superseries, the only trophy missing from her cabinet, while becoming the World No.1 remains her ultimate goal.

The tall 5' 11" silver medallist in women's singles badminton at Rio Olympics is conscious of the fact that she will be the most marked player by her opponents in the upcoming tournaments.

The Hyderabadi, who returned to a hero's welcome by both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments, told IANS in an interview that her immediate aim is the Superseries.

"My immediate aim is the Superseries. I will focus on that," said the 21-year-old who finished runner-up at the Denmark Open last year.

For the World No.10, reaching the top rank remained her ultimate goal, which she had set for herself in 2012 after breaking into the top 25.

"If you keep winning tournaments, you automatically become number one. I will have to definitely work hard and give my best," said Sindhu, the only double bronze medallist from India at the World Championships.

For Sindhu, whose parents are volleyball players, badminton was a passion when she held the racquet at the age of eight.

"It was a step-by-step journey. First the national circuit, then the international circuit. I was the first (Indian girl) to win a bronze at the World Championships. Slowly I got confidence in myself. I was down with injuries, ups and downs but then finally I made it."

Her coach Pullela Gopichand believes that she is still far from a complete transformation. Which are the areas she thinks she needs to work on?

"No particular one thing. I had been playing all the strokes and it is very important that you learn and you keep on learning."

Does winning an Olympics silver increase the pressure to perform well every time she goes on court?

"Nothing like pressure but it will depend on how I prepare. It will also depend on the strategy I have to make keeping in view what happens in a particular match."

Sindhu, who went down fighting at the Rio Olympics final to Carolina Marin of Spain, the current World No.1, said there was no pressure in the crunch game.

"There was no pressure. I played my game. It was a good game. I congratulated her. She played aggressively."

How did she feel after taking a 1-0 lead in the first game?

"I never thought it's over. I believed in myself. There was one more game. I knew that she is not going to leave (the contest). She came back and the third game was equally good but she took the lead, maintained it and won."

Was she disappointed at the loss?

"I was not. In the final game, I thought I can come back as I did in the first game after trailing 16-19. I should appreciate her. She played with the intention of winning. Both of us were fighting equally hard. Only one can win and it was her day," Sindhu said.

"Gopi sir told me he is very happy. 'It was a good week for you, I don't want you to be upset, we did not think we will come thus far and you played brilliantly well'."

Which was the toughest match for you?

"Every match was equally tough since the first round like the one against Michelle Li (Canada). The pre-quarterfinal was also tough. Tai Tzu-ying (Chinese Taipi) was not an easy player. Then the quarterfinal against World number two Wang Yihan (China). In the past, I won few matches and she won few. It was same against Nozomi Okuhara (Japan) whom I defeated in the semifinal."

"I feel each one was equally tough and each one was totally different because everybody has a different style of game and different strategy. I never thought I will win an Olympic medal. I took it one match at a time."

Sindhu also felt that the Chinese are not unbeatable as players from others countries too were playing well and coming up.

"This time I think there were no Chinese in the women's singles. They played well. (Defending champion) Li Xuerui was injured but ups and downs are always there in life. For me particularly, the match with Wang Yihan was good. She did not leave (any chances). She is a very experienced player."

Things have changed a lot for Sindhu with the silver medal -- and it's not just the cash rewards of Rs 13.5 crore and countless other gifts one is talking about.

"It's truly different feeling. I feel my life has changed. I never thought I will get the medal at Olympics. It was my first Olympics. I am really happy. It's a dream come true."

She is also elated over the fact that from the country's top leaders to celebrities, everybody rooted for her. Amitabh Bachan tweeted that he wants to take a selfie with her while Rajnikanth said he had become her fan.

"It's is a great thing. It made my day. Today I was retweeting to them to thank them. Millions of people supported me. I think their support, blessings and prayers helped me," Sindhu concluded.

(Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in)

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Wario was summoned for investigations on Wednesday following complaints of stealing of uniforms, accrediting bloated list of 'joyriders' at the expense of coaches some of whom were left out of the Rio Games and fraud in ticketing.

DIC Director Ndegwa Muhoro summoned him and asked him to go and help in unravelling the saga, reports Xinhua.

"The DCI called him to help in starting the probe into the complaints by the athletes at large. He did his part and he is not a suspect," a police officer close to investigations said.

When he arrived at DCI headquarters, he was handed to a team from Serious Crime Unit that is pursuing the matter that took his statement.

Sources said Wario blamed the mess on National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) officials, who were handling the matter. Among those named and were being sought include Team Kenya' s chef de mission Stephen arap Soi and also NOCK deputy treasurer.

The distribution of kits to Kenya's Olympic Team has been put under scrutiny after Nike registered disappointment with the manner in which NOCK officials handled the issue.

Furious Nike executive officials sought an explanation from the committee, sparking outrage across social media platforms in Kenya.

Wario told the officers he did not have the list of those who travelled to Rio because the matter was being handled by NOCK.

Also being sought was vice NOCK secretary general James Chacha Maroa and NOCK secretary-general Francis Katana Paul.

There were complaints more than 200 joyriders travelled to Rio for the just concluded Olympics affecting resources that were meant for the athletes, their coaches and managers.

Some coaches were not accredited and had no access to the training facilities where their services were needed, athletes complained. The team pursuing the matter will also interrogate a number of athletes as part of their probe.

There were complaints sports kits for athletes were stolen, allowances not paid and the athletes were mistreated in general.

Despite the fiasco, the athletes performed well getting six gold, six silver and one bronze and finished position 15 and first in Africa.

Kenya was officially represented by 52 athletes, three boxers, 14 rugby players, one archery player, two swimmers, one weightlifter and one judoka and 30 members of the technical team.

Others included 14 members of the Steering Committee, 14 from NOCK, seven administrative staff and two officials from Treasury making the total figure 178.

But the list was bloated which is said to have included relatives and friends hitting 250.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga have demanded answers on how the issue was run.

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Solo, 35, made the comments as she felt Sweden played too defensively in a quarter-final match during the Rio Olympics women's soccer tournament. Sweden ousted the the United States 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw, reports Xinhua.

"The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players," US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honour those principles, with no exceptions."

The defeat stopped US women's football team from the final four for the first time in Games history, as they have won four golds and a silver since women's football was introduced to the Olympic programme in 1996.

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"Such decisions were made on the basis of collective responsibility," Zakharova said on Tuesday on Vesti FM radio, reports Tass. "These people have no relation to doping. A crime was committed today."

"I want to immediately tell those who will say 'there's no smoke without fire': let's take a simple story," she added.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the Russian Paralympic Committee's (RPC) appeal against its ban from the upcoming Rio Olympics.

"Let's assume that the Reuters agency published an article with many inconsistencies, irrelevant things about Crimea. And let's assume the decision is made that the agency loses its accreditation in Russia, and then the decision is made that all British media are expelled for company's sake," Zakharova said.

"Who can tell us anything against that decision? International structures now make such decisions. Our Paralympians have got it," she said.

Zakharova said some time will pass and the public will learn how such decisions were made and under what pressure.

"We will get to know everything; names involved in it will be written into infamous history," she said.

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The Games will be held from September 7 to 18 here but Spence said the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) remained positive about its outcome, reports Sputnik.

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) head Phillip Craven earlier commented that "never before in the 56-year history of the Paralympic Games have we faced circumstances like this".

Despite the unprecedented setbacks this year's Games have faced, Spence said the Paralympics will still go ahead as planned. The IPC is currently trying to work with the organising committee in Rio to sort out the financial deficit, which cast doubts on whether many countries would be able to participate at all.

"Well, the Rio Organisation Committee is responsible for raising funds and Brazil has faced serious economic problems in the last two years. Somewhere in the budget that they have earmarked for the Paralympic Games, the money just isn't there. So we have had to work with the Olympic Committee," Spence said on Tuesday.

Recently, as many as 10 countries signalled they may have to pull out of the Games due to the financial woes. However, Spence denied this would present an issue, insisting that the downscaling of the event is not an option.

"There will be no downscaling, those 10 countries that said they cannot make the Games, we have been in contact and they will be able to travel, so all 165 countries will be there on the 7th September," Spence added.

In addition, it has been noted that the troubles faced by the Paralympics this year could impact on future broadcasting and sponsorship deals.

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Both athletes, who are bronze medallists of the 2008 Olympic Games, have been provisionally suspended from competitions, reports Tass.

"In line with the relevant rules and regulations, the IWF imposed mandatory provisional suspensions upon the athletes, who remain provisionally suspended in view of potential anti-doping rule violations until their cases are closed," the IWF said.

Lapikov and Akkayev are bronze medallists of the 2008 Olympic Games in the 105 kg and 94 kg categories, respectively. Akkayev also won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The list of 15 suspended athletes includes 11 medallists of the 2008 Olympic Games. Among them are Belarusian, Chinese, Kazakhstani and Azerbaijani athletes.

The IWF announced on July 29 its decision to ban the whole Russian weightlifting team from the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro over numerous cases of violation of anti-doping rules.

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ECHR would consider the claim of the Russian Paralympians should they file it, the court said in a statement on Tuesday, reports Sputnik.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the Russian Paralympic Committee's (RPC) appeal against its ban from the upcoming Rio Olympics.

Russian Senator Tatiana Lebedeva suggested that Moscow could file a lawsuit with ECHR.

"All properly submitted claims are examined by the court which will examine whether the claim meets the conditions of admissibility defined by the European Convention on Human Rights before it may be considered substantially," the court said.

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At 15.5m tall and 170m long, the work of art is nearly 3,000 square meters in size.

Brazilian graffiti artist Eduardo Kobra painted this massive work of art along the promenade here and now it is recognised as the largest of its kind in the world.

The work, titled "We Are All One," shows five faces representing five main ethnic groups from five continents.

It means to resemble the official Olympic symbol - the five Olympic rings - the 39-year-old, Sao Paulo born muralist told Efe on Tuesday.

To accomplish the mural, it took 180 buckets of acrylic paint and 2,800 cans of spray paint as well as seven hydraulic lifts, Guinness World Records said in a statement.

The mural by Brazil's most renowned street artist became another attraction of the Olympic Boulevard.

Kobra began this work in early July with three team members and finished the gigantic mural on August 2, three days ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2016 edition of the Games.

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Giving out figures at a press conference, Paes said that for the two weeks of the Games, Rio saw a hotel occupancy rate of 94 percent and each tourist spent an average of 424.6 reais ($131.7) a day.

The United States provided most of the foreign tourists (17 per cent), followed by Argentina (12 per cent) and Germany (7 per cent), he said.

Paes said foreign arrivals had been within the expectations of local authorities, who had estimated between 350,000 and 500,000 foreign visitors, reports Xinhua.

The immediate impact of the Olympic boom was clear as Paes said that commerce increased by 70 percent in Rio's popular southern district, compared with 2015. In Barra da Tijuca, close to the Olympic Park, commerce was up by 30 percent.

"This data shows the importance of the Olympic Games as they generated activity amidst the deep economic crisis Brazil is living through," said Paes.

Concerning the threat of the Zika virus, which caused a number of athletes to pull out of the Games, Paes reported that no cases were reported during the Games.

Between August 5 and 21, the dates of the Games, 8,651 tourists were attended in public hospitals and clinics, including 2,133 foreigners. However, none of these presented symptoms of Zika.

"There was a certain degree of alarmism, by certain sectors of the international healthcare sector, that made people think if they came to Rio, they would contract the virus," said Paes.

Experts had already warned that it was unlikely any cases of Zika would arise due to the Games, since they were happening in winter for Brazil, with the Aedes aegypti not being present during colder temperatures.

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"The contribution of public resources is small compared to the importance of the event," the president's Chief of Staff Eliseu Padilha said on Tuesday.

Interim President Michel Temer may earmark up to 100 million reais ($30.3 million) for the September 7-18 event, Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

The Organising Committee of the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games requested the government's help following slow ticket sales -- only about 17 per cent of seats have been sold -- and due to a lack of sponsors.

Last week, the committee said it needed at least 250 million reais ($75.8 million) to provide the "level of service" it was committed to offering.

According to Padilha, the committee needs at least 400 million reais ($121.2 million) to cover its expenses, and pledged to look for another 150 million reais ($45.4 million).

The government considers the Paralympic Games to be as important as the Olympics that preceded them, said Padilha, noting Temer is due to attend the inauguration ceremony.

The committee is expecting Rio's city government to provide another 150 million reais.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said the public funds are necessary as both the national and city governments are guarantors of the events, in keeping with the agreements reached with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) when it granted Rio the rights to host the events.

However, Paes was optimistic about ticket sales picking up, saying the sale of seats for Olympic events also began slowly but accelerated as the dates near.

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Sakshi, who arrived in Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport early on Wednesday from Rio de Janeiro, was given a rousing reception at the airport itself.

The Haryana government in a state-level function held to honour Sakshi, rewarded her with a Rs 2.5 crore check and announced a government job for her.

The Delhi government had also announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for her.

"I got a very good welcome. Felt very nice. Lot of people from my village and state came to receive me," Sakshi, who stopped at New Delhi's Haryana Bhawan for some time, told the media.

"I will rest for a few days and then begin the training schedule again," said a visibly happy Sakshi, who got a first medal for India at the Olympics by winning bronze in the 58-kg women freestyle wrestling event.

Sakshi's motorcade delayed reaching Bahadurgarh town as she was stopped and honoured by people from various villages in Haryana along the Delhi to Rohtak highway.

The wrestler was accompanied by her mother Sudesh and father Sukhbir Malik. She was accorded the status of a state guest by the Haryana government.

Haryana's Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij, who was present in Rio as the head of state delegation, accompanied the star wrestler on the return flight.

At the insistence of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the event to felicitate Sakshi was pre-poned from Wednesday evening to morning. The venue was also shifted from her hometown Rohtak to Bahadurgarh town, 30 km from Delhi.

Khattar, along with other ministers and officials, was present at the venue to welcome and honour Sakshi.

Sakshi was given the honour to be the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony of the Rio games.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia last week visited Sakshi's native place in Rohtak, 70 km from Delhi.

He announced a direct promotion for Sakshi Malik's father Sukhbir Malik -- a bus conductor with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

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Temer on Tuesday thanked all those responsible for organising the event, saying the "workers, volunteers and residents of Rio had resolved each detail to receive the biggest sports competition in the world", Xinhua news agency reported.

"Brazil has seen an extraordinary achievement and this work is that of the Brazilian people," he said.

He praised the "exceptional" sports venues, where 27 world records and 92 Olympic records were broken, while Brazil won 19 gold medals, the best result in its history.

Temer spoke of some of the main victories by Brazilian athletes such as the first gold medal scored by the men's football team "on the sacred grass of the Maracana", and the third gold for the men' s volleyball team, setting "an example for various generations of Brazilians".

He vowed that the spirit of unity which sets an example for Brazil to work together would not be lost.

"We will maintain the important projects at the Ministry of Sports and maintain our sports policy to become an Olympic power in the future," he said.

According to Temer, foreign visitors were also impressed with 98.7 per cent reporting that the games had met their expectations and 87 per cent had stated they wanted to come back to Brazil.

Temer said Brazil would use the success of the Olympics to face its economic and political challenges.

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Hectic preparations were underway to give Malik a rousing reception at her village in Rohtak district of Haryana.

Ministers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Haryana received Malik at Indira Gandhi International Airport here.

Haryana's sports and youth affairs minister Anil Vij, who was present in Rio as head of state delegation, accompanied the star wrestler on the return flight.

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"The decision is not in the legal framework - it's more political than judicial. There were no reasons to dismiss (the appeal), but it happened," Mutko said, reports Xinhua.

"We will study the possibility of further steps, and probably take a decision," the minister said, expressing regret that "those bodies that should defend Paralympians do not do it and punish them instead."

Earlier on Tuesday, the CAS said in a statement that it had dismissed the appeal filed by the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) against the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to suspend RPC's membership.

The IPC took the decision to suspend Russia from participating in the September 7-18 Games following the publication of the McLaren Report and additional information it has since received from the report's author.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published the independent McLaren Investigation Report on July 18, which said the Russian state manipulated the doping control process and recommended to IOC to ban the participation of the entire Russian team from the Rio Olympic Games.

But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to yield and left it to individual sports associations to decide on the Russian participation. After that 278 Russian athletes were cleared for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.

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Earlier in the day, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the Russian Paralympic Committee's (RPC) appeal against its ban from the upcoming Rio Olympics, reports Sputnik.

"After the rejection of the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the participation of our Paralympians in the games, it is time for lawyers to work. It is necessary to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights," Lebedeva, an Olympic champion, told RIA Novosti.

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Vijayawada: Felicitation programme P.V. Sindhu

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Lausanne (Switzerland), Aug 23 (IANS) The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday dismissed the appeal filed by the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) against the decision to ban Russian athletes from next month's Paralympic Games in Rio.

The decision was rendered by Governing Board of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on August 7, reports Tass.

"As a consequence, the IPC decision is confirmed," CAS said in a statement. "So, the entire Russian team has not been allowed to compete in the Paralympic Games."

"The CAS Panel in charge of this matter found that the IPC did not violate any procedural rule in dealing with the disciplinary process leading to the RPC's suspension and that the decision to ban the RPC was made in accordance with the IPC Rules and was proportionate in the circumstances," the statement said.

The Panel noted that "the RPC did not file any evidence contradicting the facts the IPC decision was based on," it said. The RPC sent an appeal to the CAS on August 15.

The hearing of the case was held in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The Para Ganes is scheduled from August 7 to 18.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) earlier suspended the RPC and banned Russian athletes from this year's Games following the report of the independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) led by Richard McLaren.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is satisfied with the ruling, it said in a statement.

"We are greatly encouraged that the CAS Panel has upheld the IPC Governing Board's unanimous decision," the IPC press service quotes the committee's President Philip Craven as saying.

"Although we are pleased with the decision, it is not a day for celebration and we have enormous sympathy for the Russian athletes who will now miss out on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. It is a sad day for the Paralympic Movement, but we hope also a new beginning."

The IPC will now work with international federations to redistribute the 267 slots that had been secured by the Russian athletes to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the statement says.

"As an autonomous organisation with a different governance structure to the IOC, the IPC's decision was based on the fact that there is one sole IPC member in Russia responsible for both winter and summer Para sport. We found that member - the Russian Paralympic Committee - not to be fulfilling its obligations in regards to the IPC Anti-Doping Code and World Anti-Doping Code and therefore decided to take the best course of action for the Paralympic Movement," it added.

"Beyond Rio 2016, we will work with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to establish the criteria the Russian Paralympic Committee needs to meet in order to fulfil all its membership obligations and have its suspension lifted," the statement said.

"We will also continue to work closely with the IPC Anti-Doping Committee and WADA on the measures to be taken to address the athletes implicated as part of the McLaren Report, including advice on results management."

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In a statement issued here, NAC Jewellers said it would honour Sindhu with a diamond necklace worth Rs 600,000 for a winning silver medal, and one worth Rs 300,000 to Malik for winning bronze medal in the women's freestyle wrestling while honouring gymnast Karmakar with Rs.100,000 for her great performance in which she just missed a medal.

NAC Jewellers also aims to further expand this initiative and create a platform to encourage budding sportswomen in the country, the statement added.

"It was a glorious stint for the Indian sportswomen at Rio Olympics 2016 and a proud moment to witness these young minds lead our country into historic victory across categories. We at NAC Jewellers are thrilled to honor these great sportswomen for their determination in the game and playing a significant role in putting India on the global map of sports," Anantha Padmanabhan, Managing Director was quoted as saying in the statement.

"We are confident that this initiative will lay a stepping stone for us to continue our efforts in recognising such hidden gems of our country," he added.

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Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Indian badminton player P.V. Sindhu who won silver medal in Rio 2016 Olympics during a programme organised to felicitate her in Vijayawada on Aug 23, 2016. Also seen Indian Badminton team coach Pullela Gopichand. (Photo: IANS)

Vijayawada, Aug 23 (IANS) For a second consecutive day on Tuesday, star shuttler P.V. Sindhu and her coach Pullela Gopichand basked in the glory of the silver medal she clinched in the women's singles category at Rio Olympics.

A day after the Telangana government felicitated them for the historic achievement, the Andhra Pradesh government went out of the way to give them a rousing reception.

If Hyderabad, the hometown of Sindhu, had come out to accord her a hero's welcome, Vijayawada, the native place of her mother, opened its heart to the star shuttler.

The Andhra Pradesh government left no stone unturned to give Sindhu and her coach a memorable reception. They were brought here by a special aircraft from Hyderabad in the morning.

At the Gannavaram Airport, they were accorded a warm welcome by the state ministers. As Sindhu's parents have their roots in Andhra Pradesh, many of her relatives were among those who accorded her a warm welcome.

This was followed by a huge victory rally from the airport to the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium.

Standing in a specially decorated open-top bus along with her coach Gopichand, parents and some ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Sindhu waved at the huge crowd. She kept displaying her Olympic medal proudly.

Amid the drum beats, the victory rally passed through different parts of the city before reaching the stadium, where she was given a rousing reception.

Keeping all protocols aside, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reached the stadium much before the scheduled time to welcome Sindhu and Gopichand.

Naidu even held a racquet and played for some time with Sindhu on the dais, amid loud cheers by thousands of students.

Sindhu said the visit to Vijayawada was a trip down memory lane. "As a child I used to visit my grandparents here and play badminton," she said and recalled that Gopichand spotted her playing the game and offered to train her.

Naidu, who presented a cheque of Rs 3 crore to Sindhu, lavished praise on her for becoming the first Indian woman to clinch a silver medal at the Olympics. He promised all help to the Telugu abidda' and exuded confidence that next time she will come back with a gold medal.

Naidu has already announced a 1,000 square feet residential plot in Amaravati for Sindhu.

He recalled that as the chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh he had allotted five acres of land to Gopichand for his badminton academy in Hyderabad and Sindhu rose to greater height with the training at the same academy.

Naidu announced that sports city will be developed in Amaravati, the upcoming state capital. He said 15 acres of land will be allotted for Gopichand for his academy to produce world-class players.

The chief minister also announced Rs.25 lakh for shuttler Kidambi Srikant, who performed well at the Olympics. He also announced a Rs.25 lakh cash award for women's hockey player E. Rajini.

Sindhu on Monday received another cheque of Rs.5 crore from Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who also offered her a residential plot in Hyderabad and a government job.

Sindhu, Gopi get rousing reception in Vijayawada

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"Dipa would be promoted from existing sports officer to assistant director and Nandi from assistant director to deputy director of the Tripura government's sports and youth affairs department," Information, Cultural Affairs and Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

He said the Tripura cabinet headed by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar took the decision to recognise Dipa and Nandi's performance at the Rio Olympics.

Sarkar led a huge civic reception for Dipa and Nandi on Monday. Dipa, the first Indian women gymnast to take part in the Olympics, put up a creditable performance to finish fourth in the final round, missing out on bronze by a whisker.

Dipa will sit for her MA examination in political science under Tripura (Central) University from Tuesday. The tests will continue till August 30.

She is pursuing the course via a distance education programme as she is a government job holder.

"I took my books to Rio de Janeiro and studied as and when I got scope in between my gymnastics practice there," Dipa told reporters before entering the examination hall on Tuesday.

While addressing the gathering organised by the government on Monday for a reception to Dipa and Nandi, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said : "I believe she will do well in her MA examination too."

The Union sports ministry on Monday announced to confer the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ranta award to Dipa and the Dronacharya award to her coach Bisheshwar Nandi.

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The committee consists of joint secretary (Sports) Onkar Kedia and director (Sports) Vivek Narayan. The two member committee will submit its report in seven days, a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release said.

"It has been widely reported in the media that Ms. O.P. Jaisha, marathon runner collapsed at the end of the marathon run in Rio Olympics 2016, as there were no Indian officials present to provide her water and energy drinks at refreshment points and that there were officials from all other countries to provide refreshments to their runners at designated points after every 2.5 kms," the release added.

Jaisha on Monday revealed shocking levels of official incompetence, which she claimed could have even proved fatal for her.

Jaisha claimed that Indian officials did not bother to make arrangements to provide water and energy drinks to her during the race despite designated stations after every 2.5 kilometres being allocated for Indian athletes.

Jaisha finished 89th in the event with a below-par timing of 2 hours, 47 minutes and 19 seconds.

"It was very hot there. The competition was at 9 a.m., I ran in scorching heat. There was no water for us, neither recovery drinks nor food. Only once in 8 kms did we get water (from the Rio organisers) which did not help at all. All the countries had their stalls at every two kms but our country's stall was empty," Jaisha told a television news channel.

"We are supposed to be given drinks by our technical officials, it's the rule. We cannot take water from any other team. I saw the Indian board there but there was nothing. I had a lot of problem, I fainted after the race. I was administered glucose, I thought I would die," she added.

Jaisha had collapsed at the finish line after completing the marathon and had to be rushed to a hospital where her coach Nikolai Snesarev got into an altercation with one of the doctors and was detained by the local police for several hours.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has brushed aside her claims, saying she made those allegations against the governing body to cover up her poor performance.

The federation even said the athlete herself refused any arrangement when approached a day before the event by the officials.

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The 34-year-old arrived here on Monday and confirmed her mission will change from track competition to marathon. She has pencilled the Newcastle half-marathon next month as her launchpad, reports Xinhua.

"It has been my dream and everyone knew that I was planning to switch to the ultimate distance. It has been a successful journey for me in the track and I know I will adjust comfortably to marathon," she said.

Cheruiyot, who is also the world champion in 10,000m, formed the third batch of athletes coming back from Rio where Kenya claimed six gold, six silver and one bronze medals.

Cheruiyot contributed the gold in the 5,000m race and the silver in the 10,000m.

Cheruiyot, who had won everything on the track except the Olympic gold, was making her fourth appearance in the Games after Sydney (2000), Beijing (2008) and London (2012).

It is a feat very few athletes have been able to attain so far. She made history as the first Kenyan woman to win the 5,000m Olympic title in an Olympic record time of 14:26.17.

Pauline Konga (1968) and Isabella Ochichi (2004) are the only other Kenyans to have won medals in the event at the Olympic stage, both got silver medals.

But Cheruiyot had a message to the coaches as she exits the track disciplines.

"They need to come up with better strategy, plan and focus on how to counter the challenge. It will get tougher by the day, but Kenya has always a new talent coming, who can fill up the void.

"There is also the challenge of other countries preying on our athletes when they are still young; I hope the coaches will seek away to stop it. We need our best talent here to carry the national flag at international competitions," she said.

After losing the 10,000m battle to Ethiopian Alamaz Ayana, who set a new world record of 29:17.45 on August 12, Cheruiyot got her revenge in 5,000m, obliterating the Ethiopian world 5,000m champion. Another Kenyan Hellen Obiri settled for silver in 14:29.77 with Ayana taking the bronze in 14:33.59.

"I have been patient and the results are good. As I bow out, I have my head held high. I need a new challenge and I believe it will be good to move to marathon.

"But I may still run the 10,000m race at the London 2017, but that depends on my transition. The marathon race in London would be appealing," she added.

For the time being, a good rest with her son will be enough as she reflects on the challenge ahead.

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Large number of students and fans were lined up on either side of the road to welcome Sindhu as she emerged from Gannavaram Airport.

Standing in a specially decorated open-top bus along with her coach Pullela Gopichand, parents and some ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Sindhu waved at the huge crowd. She kept displaying her Olympic medal proudly.

Amid the drum beats, the victory rally began around 10.30 a.m. It will pass through different parts of the city before reaching Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, where she will be felicitated.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinnarajappa and other ministers welcomed Sindhu and Gopichand on their arrival in a special aircraft from Hyderabad.

As Sindhu's parents have their roots in Andhra Pradesh, many of her relatives were among those who accorded her a warm welcome.

After the civic reception, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will present her a Rs 3 crore cheque. Naidu has also announced a 1,000 square feet residential plot in Amaravati for Sindhu.

The state government has made elaborate arrangements for a rousing reception in honour of the star shuttler, who became the first Indian to win a silver medal at Olympics.

Sindhu and Gopichand will also take a holy dip in Krishna river on the last day of 12-day long river festival "Krishna Pushkaralu".

Sindhu, who returned from Rio to Hyderabad to a hero's welcome on Monday, received another cheque of Rs 5 crore from Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who also offered her a residential plot in Hyderabad and a government job.

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Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will present her a Rs 3 crore cheque. Naidu had announced a thousand square feet of residential plot in Amaravati for Sindhu.

A special aircraft carrying the star shuttler, her coach Pullela Gopichand and some ministers and parliamentarians from Andhra Pradesh took off from Begumpet Airport here.

The state government has made elaborate arrangements for a rousing reception in honour of Sindhu, who became the first Indian to win a silver medal at Olympics.

A victory rally will be taken out from Gannavaram Airport to Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, where she will be felicitated.

As Sindhu's parents have their roots in Andhra, many of her relatives are also expected to be there.

Sindhu and Gopichand will also take a holy dip in Krishna river on the last day of 12-day long river festival "Krishna Pushkaralu".

Sindhu, who returned from Rio to Hyderabad to a grand welcome on Monday, received another cheque of Rs 5 crore from Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who also offered her a residential plot in Hyderabad and a government job.

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Hyderabad: K Chandrasekhar Rao presents Rs Five Crore to P.V. Sindhu

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Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao presents a cheque of Rs Five Crore to Indian badminton player P.V. Sindhu in Hyderabad on Aug 22, 2016. (Photo: IANS)

Hyderabad, Aug 22 (IANS) Olympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu on Monday received a Rs 5 crore cheque from Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

The Chief Minister also presented a cheque of Rs 1 crore to her coach Pullela Gopichand.

The star shuttler and her coach called on the Chief Minister on their return from Rio Olympics. Accompanied by her parents, Sindhu showed her silver medal to Rao, who was all praise for her historic achievement.

The Chief Minister said the government will come out with a new sports policy to produce world class players like Sindhu in various disciplines.

Rao also announced Rs 25 lakh cash award for Sindhu's physiotherapist C. Kiran. He also announced Rs 25 lakh for shuttler K. Srikant for his impressive performance in Rio Olympics.

The Chief Minister said it was a matter of pride that six in top 50 badminton players in the world were products of Gopichand Academy. He said if necessary the government would extend financial assistance to the academy.

Rao suggested the academy should also have its activities in districts to train budding players.

Sindhu receives Rs 5 crore cheque from Telangana CM

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Considered as the country's highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna award is conferred on a sportsperson for outstanding performance over a period of four years. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh along with a medal and a citation.

Dipa's coach Bisheshwar Nandi has been selected for the Dronacharya award along side Team India skipper Virat Kohli's coach Raj Kumar Sharma, athletics coach Nagapuri Ramesh and boxing coach Sagar Mal Dhayal.

Sindhu's coach Pullela Gopichand received the coveted award in 2009 while Sakshi's coach Kuldeep Singh has been overlooked for the award.

The Dronacharya awards for lifetime will be awarded to veteran swimming coach S. Pradeep Kumar and wrestling coach Mahabir Singh. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each with a medal and a citation.

Star cricketer Ajinkya Rahane will be conferred on with the Arjuna Award alongside archer Rajat Chauhan, athlete Lalita Babar, cueist Sourav Kothari, boxer Shiva Thapa, footballer Subrata Paul, hockey stars V.R. Raghunath and Rani Rampal, shooters Gurpreet Singh, Apurvi Chandela, paddler Somyajit Ghosh, wrestlers Vinesh Phohat, Amit Kumar, Para-athletes Sandeep Singh Maan and Virender Singh.

The award constitutes a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh and medal and a citation.

Athlete Satti Geetha will be conferred the Dhayan Chand award along with hockey player Sylvanus Dung Dung and rower Rajendra Pralhad Shelke. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh, a medal and a citation

President Pranab Mukherjee will give away the awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29, which is celebrated as the National Sports Day.

Sindhu and Dipa were accorded rousing receptions at their hometowns on Monday on return from the Olympics.

Sindhu believes the hard work put in during the last two months and many sacrifices she, her parents and her coach Pullela Gopichand made paid off.

"It was my first Olympics. I was very excited. My aim was to play well and give my 100 percent. I never thought of medal. We took it match by match and prepared the strategy," said Sindhu on Monday.

"I just believed in myself. I went and I gave my 100 percent. I did it. When I went to Olympics I did not think I will play finals but then I believed in myself. I feel I have to give full effort in every match and results will come automatically," she added.

"I feel proud I have done this and got laurels to the country. It's a great feeling. Responsiblities will always be high. Definitely I will keep up and move forward."

Her coach Pullela Gopichand said the world has seen only glimpses of what Olympic Sindhu is capable of.

Meanwhile, the Tripura government welcomed Dipa with open arms in Agartala. Tripura Sports Minister Sahid Chowdhury said national sports awards to Dipa and her coach would benefit Tripura sports.

A motorcade of hundreds of vehicles and two-wheelers took to the streets here before a huge colourful reception ceremony was held at a city stadium to honour the "pride of the state".

"I will try extremely hard to get gold medals in the forthcoming Asian Games (2018 in Jakarta), Commonwealth Games (2018 in Australia) and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I shall try to deliver my best in future," said Dipa, who set a record by becoming the first Indian gymnast to qualify for Olympics in 52 years.

"I would have been happy if I had got a medal at the Rio Olympics for the country. I will try heart and soul to get medals at the Tokyo Olympics and other future international events," she told the media.

Tripura Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty declared a holiday on Tuesday at all educational institutions in the state in honour of Dipa.

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Sindhu and Gopichand, who returned from Rio to a rousing reception, drove to Raj Bhavan and met the Governor and his wife Vimla Narasimhan.

The Governor said the power of mother, father, guru and the Almighty helped Sindhu to take the nation to the heights. "You have taken the country to somewhere and the nation today feels proud of you," Narasimhan said.

He felt that pure dedication and commitment helped her reach the peak.

Terming Sindhu as a role model for future generations, the Governor said that she is now identified with the nation.

Displaying the silver medal, Sindhu credited her victory to the Almighty. "It is all because of the God's grace," she said and profusely thanked her coach.

Gopichand thanked the help that the Governor had extended during a crucial time when he was setting up the academy.

The Governor also presented a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to Gopichand for developing the academy.

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