U. Vimal Kumar Explained

U. Vimal Kumar
Birth Date:1962 11, df=y
Birth Place:Trivandrum, Kerala
Height:1.84 m
Weight:78 kg
Country:India
Handedness:Right
Bwf Id:B7A453BA-42C4-46A3-999E-EAB2444D2D56

U. Vimal Kumar is an Indian former badminton player. He won the Indian National title consecutively for two years, 1988 and 1989.[1] [2] He also served as Chief National Coach of India.[3] He is the Co Founder, Director and Chief Coach in Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.[4] He was awarded the Dronacharya Award in 2019.[5] He was the bronze medalist in badminton at the 1986 Asian Games in the Men's team event.

Career

During his career he won French Open in 1983 & 1984 and Welsh International Open in 1988 & 1991. Vimal also represented India at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, and was ranked within the top 20 in the world. He was the National chief coach of the Indian badminton squad for several years. He quit the post in 2006 to concentrate on coaching youngsters at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.[6] Now, he is currently coaching star player Saina Nehwal in Bangalore.He also coaches Parupalli Kashyap. Malayalam film actor Kalidas Jayaram is his nephew.

Achievements

IBF International

Men's singles! Year! Tournament! Opponent! Score! Result
1983French Open Jürgen Gebhardt15–5, 15–1 Winner
1984French Open Tariq Farooq10–15, 15–6, 15–2 Winner
1987Bells Open Torben Carlsen15–6, 5–15, 9–15 Runner-up
1987Welsh International Steve BaddeleyWalkover Winner
1989Amor International Claus Overbeck15–12, 13–18, 1–15 Runner-up
1990Portugal International Peter Smith15–8, 12–15, 3–15 Runner-up
1990Strasbourg International Winner
1990Welsh International Iain Sydie15–11, 15–5 Winner
1991Strasbourg International Winner
Men's doubles! Year! Tournament! Partner! Opponent! Score! Result
1990Portugal International Clive Palmer Nitin Panesar
Steve Smith
15–7, 16–17, 5–15 Runner-up

Notes and References

  1. http://www.badmintonindia.org/archives/archives/nc_ms.htm Men's Singles National Champions
  2. Web site: Senior Nationals winners list . Badmintion.in . 12 July 2021.
  3. News: The Tribune. Top shuttlers lack drive, says coach . 13 August 2003. 10 February 2009.
  4. Web site: Management . Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy . 31 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Vimal Kumar - The Drona who trained some of the top stars of Indian badminton . The Bridge . Kalyan Ashok . 5 September 2019 . 31 July 2021.
  6. News: Vimal Kumar quits. https://web.archive.org/web/20060820193813/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/25/stories/2006042507072000.htm. dead. 20 August 2006. 25 April 2006. The Hindu. 10 February 2009.