NEW DELHI: In what is a prestigious achievement India’s chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand has been given an honourable mention by the International Olympic Committee at the 2019 Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Gopichand received the honourable mention for the male category of the awards. The legendary coach is the first Indian to receive this honour.
“The panel wishes to recognise his [Gopichand] efforts in the development of badminton in India, his efforts in supporting athletes across sports and his contribution to the Olympic Movement,” IOC said in a statement.
Speaking immediately after the awards were made public, Pullela Gopichand told TOI: “I am happy with this recognition, which I see as a recognition for all Indian coaches. I am grateful to the government of India, the sports ministry, badminton association and the Indian Olympic Association. I hope this will encourage our coaches to do even better. I am also sure this international recognition will motivate me to do better.”
Gopichand who won the All England Badminton Championship in 2001 is synonymous with badminton in the country. The 46 year old has been instrumental in shaping the careers of players like Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Parupalli Kashyap and many more. Saina and Sindhu went on to win Olympic medals for the country.
This latest achievement is another testament to Gopichand’s coaching prowess which is recognised the world over. As a coach his work behind the scenes has been instrumental in putting India firmly on the world badminton map.
Gopichand has previously been conferred the Dronacharya award for coaching and India’s third highest civilian award – the Padma Bhushan.
The IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award was created three years ago in 2017 in order to recognise coaches who have dedicated their lives to training some of the best athletes to have graced the Olympic Games.
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