Horizons much bigger for the present players: Gopi Chand
Badminton coach P. Gopi Chand reflects on the evolution of Indian badminton, noting that today's players possess greater ambition and awareness than previous generations. He emphasizes that comparing eras is unfair due to the vastly different opportunities available to modern athletes.
Why it matters
Understanding the shift in athletic mindset provides insight into the growth of sports infrastructure and success in emerging markets like India.
P. Gopi Chand is one of those rare athletes whose coaching legacy has eclipsed their playing career.
A former All England champion, he has been instrumental in establishing a system that produced India’s modern badminton stars, including Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu.
A few years after his now-renowned academy opened its doors, India hosted the World championships for the first time, in his backyard — Hyderabad, in 2009. India was just one of many countries taking part that year, still finding its feet on badminton’s biggest individual stage.
Seventeen years on, the tournament returns to Indian soil, with New Delhi playing host this time.
In those years, the country has bagged 15 medals at the Worlds, including Sindhu’s historic gold in 2019.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in