Pullela Gopichand
About
The game-changer of Indian badminton, Pullela Gopichand, is a five-time National Badminton Championship winner. Today, he is revered as the Super Coach who has coached two of India's best ranking badminton players- Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu.
Pullela won the junior national badminton championship at 18 years of age. He endured a series of knee injuries in the mid-1990 that could come between his career as a badminton player. Determined to get back on track with his sport, he took up Yoga and physical therapy to help him regain form. He made a remarkable comeback in 1996 and won his first National Badminton Championship title in 1996 and won the title five times in a row until 2000. Pullela also bagged a gold medal in the SAARC badminton tournament two years in a row (1996 and 1997).
He founded the Gopichand Badminton Academy to provide world-class coaching and training to young upcoming badminton players in India. Several young players he coached at the academy went on to achieve international laurels. They include- Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap, P. V. Sindhu, and Srikanth Kidambi.
Awards and Accomplishments
Awards and Accomplishments
Pullela Gopichand won the All England Open Badminton Championship in 2001, becoming the second Indian to achieve that.
He won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 1998 National Games of India. He won a gold medal in 1996 at the SAARC Badminton Tournament and defended his crown in the next match in Colombo in 1997. At the 1998 Commonwealth Games, he won a silver medal at a team tournament and a bronze medal at the Men’s Singles. He won the British Open Badminton Championship in 2001 and became the second Indian after Prakash Padukone.
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1999
Arjuna Award
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2001
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
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2005
Padma Shri
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2009
Dronacharya Award
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2014
'Padma Bhushan' India's third highest civilian award
Why Pulella Gopichand?
In his motivational talks, shares with the audience his rise from humble beginnings to becoming a star on Indian Badminton’s horizon and his endeavours to produce more sports icons like him through his academy. His journey from a badminton champion to a celebrated coach is truly awe-inspiring!
Popular Speaking Topics :
- Physical literacy
Made in India
Coaching
Teamwork
Motivation
