Pullela Gopichand Explained

Pullela Gopichand
Birth Date:1973 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Nagandla, Andhra Pradesh, India
Height:1.82m (05.97feet)[1]
Weight:68 kg
Event:Men's Singles
Highest Ranking:5[2]
Highest Ranking Date:15 March 2001
Country:India
Handedness:Right
Bwf Id:F7C6507E-3CF9-4CA5-B2B2-657C934CC8A5

Pullela Gopichand (born 16 November 1973) is an Indian former badminton player. Currently, he is the Chief National Coach for the India national badminton team.[3] He won the All England Open Badminton Championships in 2001,[4] becoming the second Indian to achieve this feat after Prakash Padukone.[5] [6] He runs the Gopichand Badminton Academy. He received the Arjuna Award in 1999, the Khel Ratna Award (highest sporting honor in India) in 2001, the Dronacharya Award in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan – India's third highest civilian award – in 2014.[7] [8] He is the only Indian coach to win the "Honorable Mention" by the International Olympic Committee at the 2019 Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards.[9]

Early life

Pullela Gopichand was born on 16 November 1973 near Chirala Town to Mr. Pullela Subash Chandra and Mrs. Pullela Subbaravamma, in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh.[10] Initially, he was interested in playing cricket, but his elder brother encouraged him to take up badminton instead. His family settled in Nizamabad for a while. He did his schooling in St. Paul's High School, Hyderabad. He joined A. V. College, Hyderabad and graduated in public administration. He was the captain of the Indian combined universities badminton team in 1990 and 1991.

Playing career

Pullela was mainly coached by S. M. Arif. He is also trained under Prakash Padukone, and Ganguly Prasad at the SAI Bangalore.[11] [12] Pullela won his first National Badminton Championship title in 1996, and went on to win the title five times in a row, until 2000. He won two gold medals and one silver medal at the Indian national games, 1998, held at Imphal. At the international level, he represented India in 3 Thomas Cup tournaments. In 1996, he won a gold in the SAARC badminton tournament at Vijayawada and defended his crown in the next games held at Colombo in 1997. At the 1998 Commonwealth Games, he won a silver in the team event and a bronze in men's singles.

In 1999, he won the Toulouse Open Championship in France and the Scottish Open Championship in Scotland. He also emerged as the winner at the Asian satellite tournament held at Hyderabad in the same year, and lost in the final match of the German Grand Prix Championship.

In 2001, he won the All England Open Badminton Championships at Birmingham. He defeated then world number one Peter Gade in the semi-finals before defeating Chen Hong of China to lift the trophy.[13] He became the second Indian to achieve the feat after Prakash Padukone, who won in 1980.[14]

Achievements

Asian Championships

Men's singles

Commonwealth Games

Men's singles

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Men's singles

YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1997India Open Hariyanto Arbi4–15, 7–15[15] Runner-up
1999French Open Chen Gang8–15, 15–10, 10–15[16] Runner-up
1999German Open Xia Xuanze3–15, 15–13, 4–15[17] Runner-up
2001All England Open Chen Hong15–12, 15–6[18] Winner

IBF International

Men's singles

YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1999Le Volant d'Or de Toulouse Richard Vaughan15–13, 14–15, 15–6[19] Winner
1999Scottish Open Siddharth Jain15–7, 15–10[20] Winner
1999India International Ajit Wijetilek15–6, 15–13[21] Winner
2004India Asian Satellite J. B. S. Vidyadhar15–6, 15–1[22] Winner

Coaching career

After retiring from his playing career, Pullela founded the Gopichand Badminton Academy in 2008 after reportedly mortgaging his own house.[23] Nimmagadda Prasad, a renowned industrialist, donated on a condition that his academy win a medal for India at the Olympics in badminton.[24] The academy produced several badminton players including Saina Nehwal, P. V. Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Parupalli Kashyap, Srikanth Kidambi, Arundhati Pantawane, Gurusai Datt, and Arun Vishnu.[25] Saina Nehwal went on to win the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, while P. V. Sindhu went on to win the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics,[26] the bronze medal at the pandemic-hit 2020 Summer Olympics,[27] and also became the first Indian to win the gold medal at the BWF World Championships. Pullela also served as the official Indian Olympic Badminton Team coach at the 2016 Rio Olympics held in Brazil.

Contributions to Indian athletics

In 2003, Pullela started promoting running through a 10K run Foundation by arranging the annual run also conducting training programmes for budding athletes. To help some of the poorer athletes, he arranged weekly runs and giving cash prizes to participants. He tied up with National Athletics Coach Nagpuri Ramesh to train and mentor these budding athletes. He also tied up with the Mytrah Group, a renewable energy company and started the Gopichand-Mytrah Foundation. The foundation identifies talented athletes and trains them, along with providing them with accommodation, food and transportation.[28] [29]

The efforts have been successful with a number of their athletes earning national and international medals, like Deepthi Jeevanji (World record holder in the 400m T20 category), Nandini Agasara (Bronze medalist in the Heptathlon event of the 2022 Asian Games), Rangali Swathi, Kunja Rajitha (400m Gold Medalist in Indian Youth Games 2022)[30] .[28]

Awards and honours

Rewards for Coaching the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics silver medallist P. V. Sindhu

Personal life

Pullela married fellow badminton player P. V. V. Lakshmi on 5 June 2002.[36] They have two children, a daughter named Gayathri and a son named Vishnu.

In Dec 2020, he launched guided meditation sessions for athletes named "Dhyana for Sports" in the App Dhyana. The sessions have been designed by him based on his experience training athletes. He is also the Director of Dhyana.[37] Dhyana, in collaboration with Heartfulness Institute, was the official meditation partner of the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) for Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. [38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pulella Gopichand . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418031619/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/go/pulella-gopichand-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . . 6 March 2016.
  2. Web site: Historical Ranking . . 7 February 2010 .
  3. Web site: Chief National Coach P. Gopichand, India National Badminton Team calls on Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati Raj Bhavan Mizoram India . 2024-07-29 . en . 29 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240729132550/https://rajbhavan.mizoram.gov.in/chief-national-coach-p-gopichand-india-national-badminton-team-calls-on-governor-dr-hari-babu-kambhampati/ . live .
  4. Web site: Pulella Gopichand . mapsofindia.com . 7 February 2010 . 13 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090213051415/http://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/sports/pulella-gopichand.html . live .
  5. News: P Gopichand . 11 December 2002 . . 7 February 2010 . 21 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090821192742/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/P-Gopichand/articleshow/30977688.cms . live .
  6. Web site: Pullela Gopichand – The Founder . Gopichand Badminton Academy . 7 February 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100224093210/http://www.pgba.in/abt_gopi.html . 24 February 2010 .
  7. Web site: LIST OF ARJUNA AWARD WINNERS . 12 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221945/http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm . 25 December 2007.
  8. Web site: Pullela Gopichand thanks Badminton Fraternity for Padma Bhushan . IANS . Biharprabha News . 25 January 2014 . 29 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200929151449/https://news.biharprabha.com/2014/01/pullela-gopichand-thanks-badminton-fraternity-for-padma-bhushan/ . live .
  9. Web site: Olympics honor Gopichand. 9 February 2020.
  10. Web site: Pullela Gopichand – Badminton Player . webindia123.com . 7 February 2010 . 5 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100205191308/http://webindia123.com/personal/sports/gopi.htm . live .
  11. News: His hard work and dedication has paid off . 11 March 2001 . The Tribune . 12 February 2010 . 7 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607031823/http://www.rediff.com/sports/2001/mar/11arif.htm . live .
  12. News: Still a crusader . 15 April 2001 . The Tribune . 12 February 2010 . 5 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605223556/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010415/cth3.htm . live .
  13. Web site: Gopichand enters All-England final. Our Correspondent in Birmingham. 10 March 2001. rediff.com. 28 July 2019. 20 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920154028/https://www.rediff.com/sports/2001/mar/10gopi.htm. live.
  14. News: Randhawa's wait for Padma Shri ends . 26 January 2005 . . 12 February 2010 . 28 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100328112112/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050126/sports.htm . live .
  15. Web site: India Open 1997 (I): Draws: MS . . 30 January 2016 . 12 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180312200736/https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=781B0B7D-7730-4452-87EE-F1FF7C212A44&draw=1 . live .
  16. Web site: French Open 1999 (I): Draws: MS . . 1 February 2016 . 31 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731101511/https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament/draw?id=1BE96020-F73B-449A-A3B5-D32D48E18ED3&draw=1 . live .
  17. Web site: German Open 1999 (I): Draws: MS . . 30 January 2016.
  18. Web site: All England Open 2001 (I): Draws: MS . . 30 January 2016 . 12 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180312191802/https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=4EDDF6FD-8308-43B8-A6E9-F435B5C79E55&draw=1 . live .
  19. Web site: Open de Toulouse Int 99 (I): Draws: MS . . 30 January 2016 . 12 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180312191702/https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=4ADC67AE-0B2D-4F35-8A4D-B07CD7C9D7B7&draw=1 . live .
  20. Web site: Scottish Int 1999 (I): Draws: MS . . 30 January 2016 . 12 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180312191731/https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=9CDE322D-08A9-468B-B745-7247518F00C8&draw=1 . live .
  21. Web site: India International 99 (I): Draws: MS . . 30 January 2016 . 12 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180312191748/https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=19B1848F-EF2C-499B-9BDD-5E2ACF881570&draw=1 . live .
  22. Web site: Indian Asian Satellite 2004: Draws: MS . . 30 January 2016 . 12 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180312191816/https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=D1E104F1-D194-4E3D-8BF3-4A44A2997830&draw=1 . live .
  23. News: How Indian badminton rocketed on the Gopichand shuttle . The Hindu . 20 August 2016 . 20 August 2016 . 16 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016204728/https://www.thehindu.com/thread/sports/article9011704.ece . live .
  24. News: All that went into the making of Gopichand Academy . 25 August 2021 . The Hindu . 28 August 2016 . 9 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220609152252/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/All-that-went-into-the-making-of-Gopichand-Academy/article14593383.ece . live .
  25. News: Dua . Aarti . Star maker . https://archive.today/20130203161742/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100801/jsp/graphiti/story_12750158.jsp . dead . 3 February 2013 . 15 October 2010 . The Telegraph . 1 August 2010.
  26. News: 2023-08-20 . PV Sindhu reminisces how her life changed after winning Olympic silver on Aug 20 seven years ago . 2024-07-29 . The Times of India . 0971-8257 . 30 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240730072118/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/badminton/pv-sindhu-reminisces-how-her-life-changed-after-winning-olympic-silver-on-aug-20-seven-years-ago/articleshow/102873808.cms . live .
  27. Web site: PV Sindhu won Bronze medal in Olympics, 2020, Tokyo . 29 July 2024 . 8 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210808115723/https://olympics.com/en/news/tokyo-2020-olympics-badminton-india-pv-sindhu-vs-he-bing-jao-bronze-medal-match . live .
  28. News: 7 July 2024. Off the badminton court, Gopichand sparks an athletics revolution. Times of India. 14 July 2024. 14 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240714071949/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/off-the-badminton-court-gopichand-sparks-an-athletics-revolution/articleshow/111556124.cms. live.
  29. News: 2 February 2017. Off the badminton court, Gopichand sparks an athletics revolutionGopi Chand project to help talented athletes. The Hindu. 14 July 2024. 14 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240714072243/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/Gopi-Chand-project-to-help-talented-athletes/article17145881.ece. live.
  30. News: 12 June 2023. Tribal teen Rajitha from Andhra Pradesh village wins gold at Khelo India. New Indian Express. 14 July 2024. 14 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240714073254/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2022/Jun/11/tribal-teen-rajitha-from-andhra-pradesh-village-wins-gold-at-khelo-india-2464657.html. live.
  31. Web site: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards: Full list of winners. 20 May 2019. 2 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181002223859/https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/rajiv-gandhi-khel-ratna-awards-full-list-of-winners-1353205-2018-10-01. live.
  32. Web site: Padma Awards . Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India . 2015 . 21 July 2015 . 15 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf . dead .
  33. News: Dronacharya award is a responsibility: Gopichand | Badminton News - Times of India. The Times of India. 21 July 2009. 20 May 2019. 11 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811134636/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/badminton/Dronacharya-award-is-a-responsibility-Gopichand/articleshow/4804436.cms. live.
  34. Web site: National Sports Awards to be Presented on 31st August, 2013. pib.nic.in. 28 July 2019. 13 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140813233643/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=98962. live.
  35. Web site: Rio 2016: BAI announces cash awards for 'Silver' Sindhu, Coach Gopichand. IANS. 19 August 2016. mykhel.com. en. 28 July 2019. 31 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240731101508/https://www.mykhel.com/badminton/rio-2016-bai-announces-cash-awards-sindhu-gopichand-014598.html. live.
  36. Web site: rediff.com sports: Gopichand to wed PVV Lakshmi. www.rediff.com. 27 March 2024. 19 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220319042812/https://www.rediff.com/sports/2002/jun/05gopi.htm. live.
  37. Web site: Arora. Devesh. 10 December 2020. Dhyana app brings Pullela Gopichand as mental fitness trainer: Here's what you need to know. 24 July 2021. www.indiatvnews.com. en. 24 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210724043032/https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news-dhyana-app-brings-pullela-gopichand-as-mental-fitness-trainer-670607. live.
  38. Web site: Tewari. Saumya. 21 July 2021. Tokyo Olympics: Dhyana partners Heartfulness Institute for Indian contingent. 16 August 2021. mint. en. 16 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210816134736/https://www.livemint.com/sports/olympics-news/tokyo-olympics-dhyana-partners-heartfulness-institute-for-indian-contingent-11626867971638.html. live.

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