The Inspiring Story Of The Man Behind India’s Rise In World Badminton – Pullela Gopichand

It all started with Saina Nehwal winning the bronze medal in the London Olympics 2012.

Then came P V Sindhu. She won over the country with her silver medal yesterday.

Parupalli Kashyap was the first man to enter the quarterfinals of an Olympic event in 2012.

The common factor in all these achievements – Pullela Gopichand. He has singlehandedly changed the sport of badminton in our country.

In a country obsessed by cricket, badminton survived only due to the individual contributions of enthusiasts who supported the game because they loved it.

 

As a player, he had won the All England Championships but had lost the 2000 Sydney Olympics in a tragic way

He had a heroic reception in India after winning the All England Championships. He could have just retired to an easy life, resting on his glorious laurels.

 

But he did not. He sought to achieve for India what he could not – an Olympic medal.

Gopichand brought badminton in India recognition and sponsorship by obsessively pursuing Badminton Federation officials and industrialists alike.

 

Gopichand set up two academies in Hyderabad and started grooming young talent right away. The academies are one of the best in all of Asia.

Both the academies have a total of 17 courts and can train 130 players every day.

 

His training discipline is legendary. All players are compulsorily present on court at 4.30 AM and are not allowed mobile phones

The players do not even have time to go out in the evening because they have to get up at 4 in the morning, the next day. This is the strictness that has produced players like Kidambi Srikanth, P Kashyap, Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu.

 

Gopichand himself is on the court at 4.15 AM sharp and never misses practice whether he has a cold or a fever

He believes in strict discipline – day in and day out.

This kind of toughness is what has brought India its medals for two Olympics in a row. He could have just retired, but even today, at 42, he just keeps on going.

Why?

“For India to have its national anthem played at a global badminton event is a big thing. I think there cannot be a bigger motivation than that.”

His Dronacharya Award is well-deserved. He has already groomed players who have won at the International stage and are challenging the best in the world.

With a hunger to mentor, to win medals and to promote badminton like this, India’s future in badminton is certainly in very good hands.

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Facts Sourced From – News18, HT, NDTV