Vijay Goel faces criticism for calling Sindhu, Sakshi 'Rio gold medallists'

New Delhi: Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel is in the news yet again, but for all the wrong reasons. The Minister was caught on camera calling both silver medallist shuttler PV Sindhu and bronze winner grappler Sakshi Malik as 'Rio gold medallists'.

While Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who had said PV Sindhu is from Karnataka (she is from Hyderabad) last week, may be forgiven for his gaffe, it is however very surprising, that the sports Minister, who was in Rio throughout the Olympics, would make such a mistake.

"Our Rio gold medalist PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik met the Prime Minister today along with other athletes," he said on Sunday.

Many were even more amused when on Sunday, he posted a picture of him with actor Suniel Shetty and claimed that he discussed "constructive steps for the encouragement & development of Sports in India" with him.

Earlier in August, India had to face much embarrassment as Rio Olympic organisers had threatened to cancel Vijay Goel’s accreditation because his entourage was accused of aggressive and rude behaviour at the sporting event.

Goel was trolled on social media for constantly trying to take pictures with athletes and was also criticised for getting Dipa Karmarkar's name wrong.

And now, yet again, he is facing the ire of Twitterati, for calling Sindhu and Sakshi gold medallists.

Goel later clarified that it was just a slip of tongue and nothing else. "I wanted to say medallist but ended up saying gold medallist and anyway, who knows we might bag a gold medal in the coming years," he said.