Having returned from the Olympic Games on a high with his prodigy Saina Nehwal’s bagging a bronze, India’s national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand said the country’s budding shuttlers have a bright future and are capable of achieving bigger feats.
“We definitely have a great future. Our players are young. I hope we definitely achieve bigger things,” he told PTI after returning from London.
Apart from Saina, Parupalli Kashyap also did well as he became the first Indian male to reach the quarterfinals in the Olympics.
Gopichand has played a crucial role in the emergence of both Saina and Kashyap as world class players. He has been the coach of Saina for the past several years and has attributed to her success.
“As much as a coach who has coached her (Saina) for nine years, the kind of inputs, whether its the game, whether it is her mental attitude or the physical quality which she has, I think a lot has gone.
“I am very happy today that she is able to achieve this great feat,” Gopichand, who won the All England Open Badminton Championship in 2001, said.
Asked how he strategises when it comes to facing the Chinese shuttlers, who are top seeds in badminton, the coach explained: “It is not that they all (Chinese) play the same game. Wang Yihan plays a different as compared to others.
Different players have different styles. It is very important that we plan for each of these players separately.”
The 38-year-old coach, who has set up the Gopichand Badminton Academy that is hailed for its coaching and facilities, said he was happy with his academy’s role in the players’ growth.
“I would say two things. One is the Academy’s role in providing what is required and Gopichand, the coach’s role.
Both are very important for a player. The coach and the facilities.
“Today, I am happy that we have been able to put both of these together and with the hard work of all these players, we have been able to achieve things,” he said.
Keywords: London 2012, London Olympics 2012, Summer Olympics 2012
The efforts put in by Gopichand have reflected in the show put up by the players. They made us all proud. Only 1 Indian in the final 4 of the women's badminton competetion is a great testimony to Saina's efforts. Awesome guys keep the good work going next Olympics would like to see a GOLD for TEAM INDIA.
While I appreciate the intent of Gopi and his great service to give back to the game which he loved so much by harnessing so many talents within this country, the widening gap between China and rest of countries and especially India is too glaring. We seem to be content with Quarterfinal and semifinal finish and not too sure what is that we lack to break the Chinese dominance and dont see any thing in the near process, the only one and closest we have today is Saina. No offense meant to you Gopi, please continue the great service, but just help this country produce more world beaters.
alas! india have the coach like pullela Gopichand, humble honest and
high dignity far from publicity in other areas of sports as well (>)
Go! Gopi!
A+ achievement!
I beg to differ. But for Saina Nehawal, we don't have any other shuttler male or female in the top ten.
This is just an indication of the paucity of talented shuttlers in India.
A singular achievement by a talented player can not be taken as an indicator of the country's potential in any sport.
If India produces more players of quality , who are able to win in top competitions consistently, then only it is a safe bet to say "India has the potential".
Besides, the chasm between the quality of the Chinese shuttlers and the rest of the world players is widening.
The Chinese dominance of this sport is unquestioned , seems unending and truly deserving.
If India is to compete, let it compete with the best in the game.
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