The man behind the coaching factory of badminton.
Let me ask you a very simple question - What common thread runs through the lives of PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and Parupalli Kashyap and, last but not the least, Saina Nehwal? The much-known and universally correct answer is that they all are the illustrious sport personalities which the country has ever been blessed with.
But what is not unveiled and unravelled is the fact that they all reached out to the pinnacle of their career in the badminton under the tutelage of Pullela Gopichand, the national badminton coach and the last Indian player to win the most coveted All England Club Title in 2001.
Born on the 16 November 1973 in Nalgonda district of Telangana, Pullela Gopichand’s life has been a perfect example of roller coaster story. Cricket is said to be his first love but later on he got initiated into badminton, the game which won him the unfathomable laurels and the fame both at the national and international level and since then he has never looked back.
Champion to mentor
The maiden national win for Gopichand came when he won National Badminton Championship title in 1996 and surprisingly retained this unprecedented victory for the five times in a row. He was chosen to play against Malaysia which was his debut into the fiercely-competitive arena of International Badminton in 1991. He also represented the country thrice in the Thomas Cup Tournament.
This story is from the January 2017 edition of ALIVE.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2017 edition of ALIVE.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Deadly Roads
Between 2000 and 2015, governments have registered 1,649,770 accidents and 1,039,372 fatalities. And over 50 lakh persons were injured, many handicapped and traumatised for life.
How Well Does Facebook
This social site interface judges your personality traits using data fed by you.
Murder At Midnight
Some events are beyond the limits of earthly explanations.
Are Builders Following Suit Of Mallya
It is a tough challenge for the Modi Government to round up the big defaulters and compel them to cough up the dues they owe to the country.
UP Shocker
Smajawadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party may take some time to come out of this shock.
Is Gujarat On The Way To Fascism?
People are forced to change their food habits out of fear of life imprisonment for killing or eating a cow.
Battle Over Cattle
With the matter all set to go to court, the Centre finds itself on a precarious footing.
Cows Get Legal Protection
Butchers now cannot procure cows from cattle fairs or mandis for slaughtering.
Oil Pollution In Seas An Untold Disaster
Countries around the world are awakening to this new problem that is endangering the marine life.
China Woes Vietnam: Concern For India
The Dragon is wooing the tiny Southeast Asian nation to wean it away from India.