It is a seminar with a difference. Well, for the 35 coaches from across the country who assembled for the GoSports Foundation’s coaches education under the aegis of Badminton Association of India at the Gopi Chand Academy (Gachibowli), it was an experience which should only help their cause for better results.
The initiative, thanks to the efforts of Nandan Kamath, Managing Trustee of GoSports Foundation, targets at improving the skills of these coaches by imparting knowledge and latest techniques in badminton coaching, is welcome departure too. India’s chief national coach Pullela Gopi Chand says the idea to ensure uniform coaching pattern across the country is the best part of it. “If the primary objective is to ensure that young talent doesn’t suffer for want of latest techniques, this course should help them a long way,” he feels.
The presence of Badminton World Federation technical expert Venugopal Mahalingam and the BAI vice-president and former national coach T.P.S. Puri should in a way enhance the importance of the week-long course and also the value itself.
“This programme is per the intermediate level curriculum approved and provided by the BAI and is designed to encompass the various aspects of badminton coaching and also include info about technical nuances,” explains Puri.
For his part, Gopi feels these kind of coaches should give the sport a major fillip. “Given the kind of impressive performances the Indian shuttlers have been putting up in major international events in the last couple of years, of course the high point being the 2012 London Olympic bronze medal by Saina Nehwal, this course is bound to have a major impact on the sport itself,” he explains. “There is a serious need to upgrade ourselves and keep sharing new thoughts to be better coaches,” the former All England champion felt.
More importantly, it is not just a course where in everything is forgotten once it gets over. “There will be a critical evaluation of all the coaches who attend this as they are given specific assignments and will be critically reviewed after three months. A qualified panel will evaluate their performances,” says Puri.
The BWF official Venugopal insists that these kind of courses ensure a very strong second tier of coaching system in place.
Well, the ambience – the magnificent Gopi Academy where the country’s premier shuttlers including Saina, Parupally Kashyap, train – could not have been better for these coaches as they get a first-hand experience of how Gopi himself goes about his daily job – shaping the talent into performing champions.
