5 Powerful Stories Of How Great Athletes Are Not Born, But Trained By Coaches

The country owes a lot to its Athletes and Olympians. Not only do they bring laurels home, but they also pave the path for million of aspirants who toil day and night to make it big one day. In fact, they lead with examples of grit and determination, breathing life into innumerable dreams.

But have you ever wondered how? The loud and clear answer is- because of their early lessons. It is because of their coaches who believed in them and helped them push boundaries. The credit goes to tireless efforts and unstinted commitment of the trainers who stopped at nothing. And more…

While we are still at it, it is the time we give them their due. So, here are a few powerful stories of super athletes and their legendary coaches who changed a lot more than words can describe.

1. Ramakant Achrekar who gifted us, Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar, aka the God of cricket, needs no introduction. Be it his success streak or his book of world-records, Sachin Tendulkar has been there and done it all. But before fame shined bright on Sachin, it was Ramakant Achrekar who saw the fire in a small boy.

It was Achrekar sir, as Sachin calls, who used to carry him around the maidaans in Mumbai and gave fuel to his fire. Interestingly, he would even place a coin on the stump, which would go to the bowler who got Sachin out. If none did, Sachin would get to keep it. Unsurprisingly, Sachin still cherishes the coins he earned back then.

2. O. M. Nambiar who fuelled the Payyoli Express, P.T. Usha

It goes without a mention that P. T. Usha ran miles and broke glass ceilings when nobody knew they existed. But the Payyoli Express was first spotted by coach O.M. Nambiar in 1979 who saw her take part in the National School Games.

He then took her under his wing, it was then that the Kerala-born athlete came into her own in the subsequent games. Not to forget, he is the first ever winner of the Dronacharya award owing to his services to athletics as a coach.

3. Pullela Gopichand who trained shuttlers like P. V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal

Pullela Gopichand is a former badminton player, one of the finest of his time. But the man of fewer words transformed the game of badminton when he trained ace shuttler P. V. Sindhu and helped her bag silver in the Rio Olympics. Apart from Sindhu’s winning streak, it was Gopichand’s eyes as the coach, that led to the glorious moment.

Four years prior to that, it was Saina Nehwal who had won a bronze medal for the country at the London Games. The common link between the two – super coach Pullela Gopichand.

4. L Ibomcha Singh who taught the fighting spirit to MC Mary Kom

Ibomcha Singh is a National Games gold medalist in boxing. But that is not it. After he hung up his gloves, he took to coaching boxers in his home state of Manipur and that is exactly where he created his protege, the Olympic bronze medal winner MC Mary Kom.

And the rest is history.

5. Richard Williams who coached daughters, Serena and Venus Williams

Richard Williams first picked up a racket when he heard a commentator on TV say that a tennis player had earned thousands of dollars in a week. So he first taught himself, then wrote a 78-page plan to on how to train his daughters.

And given the fact that, Serena Williams is the best American woman tennis player (she won the Australian glad slam when she was pregnant), it is safe to say that the plan worked wonders.

While there are more examples than mentioned above, there are no two ways about the fact that great athletes are not born, but trained by even great coaches.

Coaches who know the drill; the grind of the muck and dirt and coaches who keep the sportsmen up and running, come what may. Be it Summer, Winter or Monsoon! And they are the ones who you can call, Confidence+ Coach.

And nothing speaks about them like this ad by Cinthol does. 

A fitting tribute to the spirit of sport, it perfectly captures the undying flair of coaches that reminds the athletes that there is no stopping, not because it’s raining and definitely not because of the fear of falling sick. Because let’s admit it,

A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life. 


This story is brought to you in association with Cinthol 

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