PULLELA GOPI CHAND
Pullela Gopichand is a former Indian badminton player who has won several major international tournaments. He was born on November 16, 1973, in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Gopichand started playing badminton at a young age and went on to win the National Junior Badminton Championship in 1991. He won the Indian National Badminton Championship five times between 1996 and 2004.
In 2001, Gopichand won the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships, becoming the second Indian to do so after Prakash Padukone. He also won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2002 and a bronze medal at the Asian Games in 1998.
After retiring from playing badminton, Gopichand turned to coaching and established the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, India. The academy has produced several top Indian badminton players, including PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, and Kidambi Srikanth.
Gopichand has been honored with several awards for his contributions to Indian badminton, including the Arjuna Award in 1999, the Dronacharya Award in 2009, and the Padma Shri in 2005 and Padma Bhushan in 2014. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission.
GOPICHAND ACADEMY
The Gopichand Badminton Academy is a training center for badminton players located in Hyderabad, India. It was founded by former badminton player Pullela Gopichand in 2008 with the aim of producing world-class badminton players from India.
The academy has world-class facilities, including eight badminton courts, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and accommodation for players. It has produced several top Indian badminton players, including PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap, and Kidambi Srikanth.
The academy offers training programs for players of all levels, from beginners to elite players. It also offers programs for coaches, referees, and administrators to help develop the sport of badminton in India.
The Gopichand Badminton Academy has played a significant role in the development of badminton in India, helping to raise the standard of the sport and producing several world-class players who have won major international tournaments.
GOPI CHAND AS A CHIEF COACH OF INDIA
Pullela Gopichand served as the Chief National Coach of the Indian Badminton team from 2006 to 2021. During his tenure, Indian badminton players achieved great success at the international level.
Under Gopichand's guidance, Saina Nehwal won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal. PV Sindhu also won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the gold medal at the 2019 World Championships, becoming the first Indian to win a World Championships gold in badminton.
Gopichand has been instrumental in establishing a strong support system for Indian badminton players, including world-class training facilities and a team of experienced coaches and physiotherapists. He has also emphasized the importance of mental and physical fitness, nutrition, and injury prevention in the development of badminton players.
During his tenure as Chief National Coach, Gopichand received several awards for his contributions to Indian badminton, including the Padma Bhushan in 2014, the Dronacharya Award in 2009, and the Arjuna Award in 1999. His coaching has played a significant role in raising the standard of badminton in India and inspiring a new generation of Indian badminton players.
PULLLELA GOPI CHAND MARRIAGE
Pullela Gopichand is married to former Indian national volleyball player PVV Lakshmi. The couple got married in 2002 in a private ceremony in Hyderabad, India.
PVV Lakshmi represented India in several international volleyball tournaments and won several national championships. She is also a sports administrator and has served as the Vice President of the Volleyball Federation of India.
Gopichand and Lakshmi have two children, a son named Sai Vishnu and a daughter named Gayatri. Both their children are actively involved in badminton and have participated in several national-level tournaments.
The couple is known for their commitment to sports and has been actively involved in promoting and supporting the development of badminton in India. They have also been involved in several charitable initiatives, including the Gopichand Foundation, which supports the education of underprivileged children in India.
PULLELA GOPICHAND DAUGHTER
Pullela Gopichand's daughter, Gayatri Gopichand, is an up-and-coming badminton player from India. She was born on April 29, 2003, and started playing badminton at a young age at her father's academy in Hyderabad, India.
Gayatri has won several national and international tournaments in her age category, including the All India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament in 2019 and the Dubai International Challenge in 2020. She has also represented India in several international tournaments, including the Asian Junior Badminton Championships and the World Junior Badminton Championships.
Gayatri has been training under her father's guidance at the Gopichand Badminton Academy, where she has developed her skills and technique. She is known for her aggressive playing style and has been compared to her father, who was also known for his aggressive and attacking style of play.
Gayatri is considered one of the most promising young badminton players in India and is expected to represent India at the international level in the coming years.
INDIAN PLAYERS UNDER HIS TRAINING
1.Pullela Gopichand has trained and coached several Indian badminton players at the Gopichand Badminton Academy, including:
2. PV Sindhu - Olympic silver medalist, World Champion, multiple-time BWF Superseries and World Tour winner
3. Saina Nehwal - Olympic bronze medalist, World Championship silver medalist, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, multiple-time BWF Superseries and World Tour winner
4. Kidambi Srikanth - World No. 1, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, multiple-time BWF Superseries and World Tour winner
5. Parupalli Kashyap - Commonwealth Games gold medalist, multiple-time BWF Superseries winner
6. HS Prannoy - multiple-time BWF Superseries winner
7. Sai Praneeth - BWF World Tour winner
8. Sameer Verma - multiple-time BWF Superseries winner
9. P. V. Vaishnavi - National Junior Badminton Championship winner
10. Lakshya Sen - multiple-time BWF World Tour winner and former Junior World No. 1
11. Gayatri Gopichand - up-and-coming badminton player and Gopichand's daughter.
Under Gopichand's coaching and guidance, these players have achieved great success at the international level and have helped raise the standard of badminton in India.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF PULLELA GOPICHAND
1. All England Open Badminton Championship: Gopichand won the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championship in 2001, becoming the second Indian after Prakash Padukone to win the title.
2. National Championships: Gopichand has won the Indian National Badminton Championships five times in his career.
3. Commonwealth Games: Gopichand won the men's singles gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur.
4. Thomas Cup: Gopichand played a crucial role in the Indian team's historic win in the 2000 Thomas Cup, which was India's first-ever triumph in the tournament.
5. Coaching Career: After retiring from competitive badminton, Gopichand took up coaching and established the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad in 2008. He has coached several top Indian badminton players, including Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, who have won numerous international titles under his guidance.
6. Dronacharya Award: In 2009, Gopichand was awarded the Dronacharya Award, the highest coaching honor in India, for his contributions to Indian badminton.
7. Padma Bhushan: Gopichand was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian awards, in 2014 for his contributions to the sport of badminton.
Gopichand's achievements both as a player and a coach have inspired a new generation of Indian badminton players and have contributed to the growth of the sport in India.
