Pullela Gopichand: An Indian Badminton Legend

The name Pullela Gopichand is an institution in itself.?

Pullela Gopichand has coached some great talents like Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu who have done India proud on the international stage.? ?

Pullela Gopichand was no less of a player himself and winning the 2001 All England Championship was the highlight of his career.??

As a boy, like most kids his age, the first love was cricket. But Pullela Gopichand's elder brother encouraged him to take up badminton and that proved to be a masterstroke in the long run. He played at school level and was also captain of the Indian combined universities badminton team in 1990 and 1991. The journey was well underway.??

Learning the ropes under the likes of Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand's skills only improved with time. In 1996, he won his first National Badminton Championship title. From there onwards, there was no looking back. He would win the title another 4 times till 2000 on the trot. The same year he won gold in the SAARC badminton tournament and defended it in 1997.??

1998 saw Pullela Gopichand clinch two gold and one silver at the Indian national games. But the best was yet to come. At the Commonwealth Games, he won a silver in the team event and a bronze in men's singles.??

After his playing days were done, he founded the Gopichand Badminton Academy in 2008. It was believed that he mortgaged his own house to raise money for it though some generous donations did come in.?

From the kid who loved cricket, to the player who shone on the court and the coach producing fresh talent now, Pullela's journey is still going on. He is doing what he loves the most and being close to the sport which has a special place in his heart. He served India on the court and now is serving us from the sidelines.??