Three years after she moved to Bengaluru to train under Vimal Kumar, Saina Nehwal is back at the Gopi Chand Academy.
Saina, who had hinted to The Hindu about moving back to her home town on her return from the World Championships, has started training at the academy.
The move also means that India’s best women shuttlers, P.V. Sindhu and Saina, will train under the same roof.
Though Gopi refused to engage in any debate about the return, he did confirm that she has come for good and the move was not temporary.
Saina Nehwal with coach Vimal Kumar. A file photo.
“I would rather let Saina speak on this subject to avoid any misunderstanding,” Gopi told The Hindu .
Saina used her Twitter handle to express what she had to say.
“For a while, I have been thinking about moving my training base back to the Gopi Chand Academy and I had a discussion about this with Gopi sir,” Saina tweeted.
“And, I am really thankful to him for agreeing to help me again. At this stage in my career I think he can help me achieve my goals,” the champion shuttler said.
Saina also thanked Vimal for all his support. “I am also very thankful to Vimal sir for helping me for the last three years. He helped me reach World No. 1 in the rankings and also win two World championship medals (silver in 2015 and bronze in the recent edition) along with many Super Series title,” she said.
“I am very happy to be back home and in Hyderabad. Keep supporting my friends,” Saina concluded.
Gopi, by his own confession, is not into full-fledged coaching as the Indonesian singles coach Mulyo Handoyo and doubles coach Tan Kim Her are taking care of the training programme in consultation with him. Gopi now has more time to spend with other trainees at the academy.
