India's World Champion badminton star PV Sindhu has donated a combined Rs 10 lakh to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund in the Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Each of the states will receive Rs 5 lakh with the total donation amounting to nearly £11,000. 

In a post on Twitter, the reigning badminton world champion said: "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."

India has recorded nearly 800 cases of coronavirus and 20 people have died as a result of COVID-19 in the world's second-most populous country.

The 24-year-old Indian megastar PV Sindhu took to Twitter earlier this week to show her appreciation for the medical workers across India who are fighting the virus.

She joins Indian sprinter Hima Das in donating to the country's fight against the pandemic with Das having pledged to donate one month's salary to the cause.

Das wrote on Twitter: "Friends it’s high time to stand together & support people who need us. I am contributing 1 month of my salary to Assam Govt. in Assam Arogya Nidhi Account made to safeguard the health of people in the wake of Covid-19."

Das and Sindhu have also been using their social media to encourage fellow Indians to take seriously Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a nationwide lockdown.

Both athletes would have been deep into their training for the Tokyo Olympics originally scheduled for this July but have been forced to change plans after the IOC postponed the Games last week. The Badminton World Federation had already suspended all the HSBC BWF World Tour tournaments from March 16 to April 12 before further suspending five more tournaments.

Sindhu would have been hoping this summer would bring her the one medal she has been unable to secure, Olympic Gold.