India’s Olympic heroes get brand new BMWs from Sachin

It’s been raining gifts for India’s Olympic heroes, deservedly so. After the Mahindra Thars announced for 2 Olympic medalists, here are BMWs for four champs. P.V. Sindhu (Silver medal in Badminton) and her coach Pullela Gopichand, Sakshi Malik (Bronze medal in wrestling) and Deepa Karmakar (4th place in Gymnastics) have received a BMW each.

Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, who also happens to the Goodwill Ambassador of the Indian team for the 2016 Olympics, handed over these cars. The cars gifted to these Olympians were the BMW 3-Series luxury sedan and the BMW X1 crossover. Hyderabad District Badminton Association president Chamundeshwarnath gifted the cars, which are very popular in India’s luxury car circuit.

Chamundeshwarnath had also gifted a BMW to Saina Nehwal, when she won the Bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Notably, these are not the first cars that some of these Olympians have received after their good performances. A week ago, Anand Mahindra if Mahindra & Mahindra announced custom-built Thar on-off roaders for both Sakshi and Sindhu.

The BMW 3 Series that has been gifted is a diesel powered luxury sedan, with a 2 liter turbo diesel motor putting out 188 Bhp-400 Nm. The same engine powers the X1 crossover as well. Both cars use 8 speed automatic transmissions. While the 3-Series is rear wheel driven, the X1 is available in front wheel drive and all wheel drive layouts.

Both cars are assembled at BMW India’s Chennai factory through the CKD kit route. The 3-Series starts from Rs. 36.9 lakhs while the X1 starts from Rs. 29.9 lakhs. State governments and sports associations have announced various rewards in cash and kind for the medal winning Olympians. While Sindhu belongs to Telangana, Sakshi is from Haryana and Dipa is from Tripura.