All posts tagged: Pullela Gopichand

Many Facets of the ‘Sports Quota’ job: ‘Managing academics with sport is difficult, but players need to go through that grind’ | Sport-others News

Many Facets of the ‘Sports Quota’ job: ‘Managing academics with sport is difficult, but players need to go through that grind’ | Sport-others News

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by Parupalli Kashyap (2014 Commonwealth Games champion, Chief Manager at Indian Oil corporation) People say Pullela Gopi Chand is a ‘blessed coach’ who got lucky coaching “great athletes” and only wants to train rich kids now. But did they help when he ran out of money for shuttles to coach us, U13s and U16s, in 2007? Ignoring ‘family time’ after a week of 4 am training, he literally offered himself up on Sunday mornings to spar and network with bureaucrats, politicians and other ‘important’ folk only so that they were convinced he was worth backing. This, after being an All England champion. I’m very privileged now, and insanely lucky, that his academy started at that time, and none of us paid him a single rupee in the early years to make us champions. Story continues below this ad I’ve had my differences with him but will never forget he handed me USD 400 from his own pocket as ‘expenditure’ to travel to the Indonesia Open, because times were bad for me. The choice between academics …

‘I failed IIT,’ says Indian badminton coach Pullela Gopichand

‘I failed IIT,’ says Indian badminton coach Pullela Gopichand

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Former India badminton player turned coach Gopichand stressed on the importance of having a good quality education and a safety net for athletes in the country on Sunday. Gopichand, 51, was speaking in The Playmakers, a live panel discussion hosted by The Bridge. The Dronacharya awardee recalled his own tryst with academics in the conversation. “My brother went to IIT, so the standards at home were very different,” recalled Gopichand. “I wrote the IIT exam and I failed. “I wasn’t that good at junior level [in badminton], so my parents said you better play well,” he added with a laugh. He asserted that a corporate job which he landed when he just turned 18 was what kept him going in the sport. Else he would have given up his badminton ambitions. “What mad me continue playing the sport was my job in Tata Steel, that was very important,” he said. “If in 1991 when I turned 18, I did not get a job in Tata Steel, I would have written the engineering exam and become …

‘If Someone…’: Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath Counters Gopichand’s ‘Rich’ Remark

‘If Someone…’: Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath Counters Gopichand’s ‘Rich’ Remark

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Last Updated:February 23, 2025, 16:31 IST Badminton star Pullela Gopichand earlier said that the parents should be careful before allowing their children to pursue sports as a career unless they are rich. Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath (Photo: X/@Nithin0dha) Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath responded to national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand’s remark that children should pursue sports only if they come from wealthy backgrounds. In a social media post on X, Kamath highlighted that today’s sports enthusiasts have more career opportunities than before. Kamath compared the challenge faced by young people entering a world where many feel trapped in a single career despite having skills suited for other fields to the growing uncertainty surrounding job security. Nithin Kamath’s Arguments Against Gopichand’s Views “While I understand Pullela Gopichand’s concern that ‘Unless you are rich, don’t make your child a sportsperson,’ I have a different view,” Kamath said on X. “Imagine studying something you don’t like or being stuck in a field when you know that your skills are useful elsewhere. Odds are, you may end up being less …

In the passing away of coach Viswanatham, the father of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, badminton lost a gentle giant | Badminton News

In the passing away of coach Viswanatham, the father of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, badminton lost a gentle giant | Badminton News

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Tall, quiet, sturdy and cheerful. Just like the coconut trees that made the coastal district of Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, one of the most pleasant places in Andhra. R Kasi Viswanatham, father of India’s brightest doubles star, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, was the coolest ‘badminton dad’ in India, a towering figure who gave the country one of its finest athletes, while he remained gently and graciously in the background. His passing on Thursday, after a cardiac arrest, en route Delhi to watch his son get feted with the Khel Ratna, at age 65, cast a pall of gloom on the Indian badminton fraternity. The gentle giant was no more. Kasi Viswanatham will forever stay imprinted in memory for one of the most endearing things uttered, that shaped the sport in India. Like his towering father, a teenaged Satwik had a massive leap — just like fellow giants from this coastal Andhra district with its volleyball-loving spikers, a talent base that might be the best-kept secret of Indian sport. With that lethal jump smash (he eventually set a …

Pullela Gopichand spells out his ideal scenario: ‘This is my idea of how a country’s sports eco-system should be…’ | Badminton News

Pullela Gopichand spells out his ideal scenario: ‘This is my idea of how a country’s sports eco-system should be…’ | Badminton News

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I welcome the debate that my views on sport has kickstarted. Beyond the realism of what I said, I would also like to add what my idea of an ideal sports eco-system for the young generation, looks like. A utopia at this stage, if you like, but very implementable. I’m a huge believer in universal physical literacy – sports for all, at school level. Sports play a crucial role in the growth and development of both individuals and nations. As a country, we have made significant progress both alphabetically and numerically in recent years. However, our physical development has declined over the same period. This shift highlights the urgent need to recognize the importance of sports in shaping our collective future. Story continues below this ad Sports instill fundamental life lessons such as resilience in the face of defeat, the ability to bounce back from setbacks, discipline, perseverance, and hard work. These traits are essential for every individual to succeed in life. In a nation that aspires to grow and prosper, sports play a pivotal …

Parupalli Kashyap hails Pullela Gopichand’s comment as wake-up call to fill gaps in Indian sporting ecosystem | Sport-others News

Parupalli Kashyap hails Pullela Gopichand’s comment as wake-up call to fill gaps in Indian sporting ecosystem | Sport-others News

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Indian badminton legend and current head coach of the national team Pullela Gopichand sparked a raging debate with his recent comment about kids from middle-class families not taking up sports. He said, “I advise parents not to put their children in sports. We are not in a position to offer sports as a career. Unless the children are from rich backgrounds.” His comments have attracted arguments from both sides with some calling it an accurate representation of the current sporting landscape in the country while some calling it discouraging for the younger kids. Story continues below this ad One of his students and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap has agreed with his coach’s comment and explained why it is not discouraging. Taking to the social media platform X, Kashyap said,” Gopi sir’s recent remarks about the challenges middle-class families face in pursuing sports as a career resonate deeply with the realities of India’s sporting ecosystem. He’s absolutely right to highlight the lack of a safety net for athletes who don’t reach the top.” “In …

Parupalli Kashyap hails Pullela Gopichand’s comment as wake-up call to fill gaps in Indian sporting ecosystem | Badminton News

Parupalli Kashyap hails Pullela Gopichand’s comment as wake-up call to fill gaps in Indian sporting ecosystem | Badminton News

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Indian badminton legend and current head coach of the national team Pullela Gopichand sparked a raging debate with his recent comment about kids from middle-class families not taking up sports. He said, “I advise parents not to put their children in sports. We are not in a position to offer sports as a career. Unless the children are from rich backgrounds.” His comments have attracted arguments from both sides with some calling it an accurate representation of the current sporting landscape in the country while some calling it discouraging for the younger kids. Story continues below this ad One of his students and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap has agreed with his coach’s comment and explained why it is not discouraging. Taking to the social media platform X, Kashyap said,” Gopi sir’s recent remarks about the challenges middle-class families face in pursuing sports as a career resonate deeply with the realities of India’s sporting ecosystem. He’s absolutely right to highlight the lack of a safety net for athletes who don’t reach the top.” “In …

Involve children in sports but have structured checkpoints

Involve children in sports but have structured checkpoints

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Sports play a crucial role in the growth and development of both individuals and nations. As a country, we have made significant progress both alphabetically and numerically in recent years. However, our physical development has declined over the same period. This shift highlights the urgent need to recognize the importance of sports in shaping our collective future. Sports instills fundamental life lessons such as resilience in the face of defeat, the ability to bounce back from setbacks, discipline, perseverance, and hard work. These traits are essential for every individual to succeed in life. In a nation that aspires to grow and prosper, sports play a pivotal role in fostering these qualities. It is imperative that children engage in sports from an early age, not merely as a recreational activity but as a serious pursuit with professional aspirations. The benefits of professional sports far outweigh those of casual play, as they provide structured development and instill qualities that contribute to long-term success. In my opinion, every child, regardless of their socioeconomic background, can benefit from playing …

Gopi Bhaisahab’s statement is demoralizing

Gopi Bhaisahab’s statement is demoralizing

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Sport is about nation-building, and as coaches, our role is to promote and encourage talent from all sections of society. I am surprised by coach Pullela Gopichand’s statement discouraging middle-class parents from pushing their children to pursue sports. I still find it hard to believe whether he truly meant it this way or if his words were misinterpreted. Sports has given me purpose While I am not fully aware of Gopichand’s financial background when he started his career, certainly today he is a successful sportsperson who is well recognised and respected in every spectrum of life. He has also rightly supported his daughter Gayatri Gopichand’s pursuit of becoming a badminton player. She is now excelling in the sport and others should follow her path. My major concern is if this belief applies to able-bodied athletes, what about young children with disabilities who are already struggling with lifelong challenges? Such statements can be demotivating, especially at a time when India’s sports culture is evolving positively and the country is undergoing a transformation in how sports are …

Why Gopichand’s take on sport as a career is both harsh and honest

Why Gopichand’s take on sport as a career is both harsh and honest

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Pullela Gopichand, India’s national badminton coach and the mastermind behind the success of several top Indian shuttlers, recently made a statement that has sparked significant debate. Speaking to The Times of India, Gopichand said, “I advise parents not to put their children in sports. We are not in a position to offer sports as a career. Unless the children are from rich backgrounds or have a family business, it is not advisable for children to take up sport.” His remarks raise uncomfortable but necessary questions about the feasibility of sports as a profession in India. While his statement may seem discouraging, it also highlights the harsh realities that many athletes face – financial instability, lack of post-retirement opportunities, and a system that largely rewards only the elite performers while leaving the rest struggling to eke out a living. A problematic statement The idea that only the privileged should pursue sport contradicts the very essence of sport as a medium of social mobility. Many of India’s finest athletes, including those who have won Olympic medals, hail …