Spreading wings for excellence

Chief national badminton coach, Dronacharya Pullela Gopichand is on the move; like he has been both as a player and since retiring from the competitive world. Like always he knows that he has a lot more to offer in terms of making India an Asian powerhouse that can compete with the best of the lot like China, South Korea and Indonesia.

Although, the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy (PGBA) has been on the right path and serving his quest for excellence, the man himself is spreading wings by venturing into newer horizons. He opened an academy at Tanuku to cater to budding shuttlers from Andhra Pradesh. It is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities that have been personally monitored by Gopichand.

Tuesday added another feather with the launch of SAI-Gopichand National Badminton Academy at Gachibowli. In keeping with his penchant for doing everything with a touch of class, so it was with the new Academy. It was formally inaugurated by Governor ESL Narasimhan while the man of the hour stood out with his traditional attire that was in sync with the auspicious occasion.

Narasimhan gave a pep talk to the boys and girls, most of who are resident-trainees, on developing the killer-instinct without compromising on the spirit of sportsmanship, a trait Gopichand symbolised to glorious levels in his heyday.Also present were State Minister and President of Badminton Association of Telangana State, KT Rama Rao, President of Hyderabad Badminton Association, M Chamundeshwarnath, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS), A Dinkar Babu, Hyderabad Collector Rahul Bojja, Cyberabad Police Commissioner C V Anand and family members of Gopichand.

Rama Rao took to the courts to mark the inauguration of the playing surface of the academy, which, like PGBA, will also be a residential one. The PGBA achieved a new high a couple of years back when it was conferred with the President Medal in recognition of the regularity with which international players were emerging from its stables.