Gutchibowli indoor stadium is dimly lit, with silhouettes of players moving around in lightening speed, cries of the coaches, sighs of exhaustion of the players and vigorous training hits you as you walk in… one feels at that point of time, sports that appear to be fun, actually demands a lot a seriousness and grind. Moments later, when the eye gets used to the darkness, Saina Nehwal is seen jogging with Sikki Reddy encouraging her to complete the last round. With body saying no, but will pushing further on Saina gathers her efforts to surge ahead… these are India’s National badminton coach Pullela Gopichand’s budding stars forging towards great heights… literally.
In spite of his busy schedule, as he helps his lads prepare for the prestegious Olympic Games, Gopichand gives time to The Career Guide to talk about his growing academy, vision, his champion team, success and defeats and different landmarks of his sports journey so far.
TCG: From a player to a trainer how was your metamorphosis? What were your milestones?
Gopichand: It was a rich learning experience undoubtedly. I have always had a penchant for experiment. I tried out various methods/tricks to come to the style I have adopted today. I have been a voracious reader, implementing what I thought was the best from the books I read. Thus a major part of my career was series of permutations and combinations. I kept applying as to see what suits me the best. It took four years for me to get in sync with the game. I realized it wasn’t a good bargain because when I won the All England Open Badminton Championships in 2001, my age was was already 27. I had realized by then I had wasted four precious years of my life in self discovery. I don’t want this to happen to any deserving sports aspirant, hence this step to train the students diligently from an early age. Since I have gone through it I do not want anyone to go through this deliberately. I have capsulated all my lessons for my students here who I am sure will be greatly benefited. When I train my students I see them go through all those experiences I went through, some harrowing, some pleasant, some proud moments and I say to myself history repeats.
TCG: Sports demand great amount of alertness and sharpness of mind and body, in your coaching it is very obvious you are trying to bring in that ‘speed’ in Saina and others that any one would expect of an Olympic player. How does one master this? When do kids exactly lend themselves easily to this?
Gopichand: I strongly believe that by the age of ten body, mind and attitude are fixed to a certain extent. By the age of ten or eleven when the child is hard working the result is seen in future. After this age, it becomes very difficult to train a child as he/she thinks they have already entered adulthood, the individuality is like that! Early childhood is the best time to instill discipline that automatically brings in focus.
TCG: So you think age ten is the starting point?
Gopichand: I would say it is the ending point as the character is already formed and willingness doesn’t really come from deep within. I haven’t read in detail about this but I have seen it. When a kid is jovial and not too focused at the age of ten, though he grows up to become a sports person or for that matter in any field the happy-go-lucky attitude still continues as the roots of discipline are not too strong. Hence I feel it is very important to get the kids do the right things at the right age…
TCG: Is this applicable only sports or every field?
Gopichand: Since I have seen it at very close quarters I have realized the value of discipline which is imparted / inculcated right from the day one of the entry in to the academy. We insist the seniors at the centers to be absolutely strict and stern so far as the rules of the games are concerned, as they are the ones who can keep things in place. This is how we bring in order through the front run. I am talking about the kids who are in the latter phase of their teens. We need to get them to a level where we take them into confidence and treat them like friends, not just exercising authority, but at the same time up to the age of fourteen every student HAS TO FOLLOW what the trainer or the senior says without questioning even if it is unreasonable. The prime idea is to teach them to listen. Bow down and accept the command. We start coaching at the age of eight.
TCG: How do you rate India’s chances in the forthcoming Olympics?
Gopichand: So far as badminton is concerned, if you go by the world rankings Saina is 15th and Anup Sridhar is 30th , obviously they do not stand much chance because there are 15 or 30 more players better than them, but going by their performances in the past few months I believe they can do that. We have been trying incessantly for the past few months to bring up Saina to that mark and she is in a good physical shape now, we are expecting good results from them. I would still say it’s impossible to predict future. As for me once they get to the quarterfinals and beat a couple of top ranked players that should be good enough.
TCG: Sports and injuries have almost become synonymous. Especially looking at what happened to Anup Sridhar how feels the harshness of sports.
Gopichand: Sports has always been too strict a teacher. Injuries are common but they often turn into impediments. A sports person is undoubtedly passionate about his career, planning out the same very meticulously, but fate throws surprises at us, probably to test how truly ‘sportive’ you are! All the lessons in sports come in a much magnified way. Players work really hard and are absolutely focused in the court but like we saw in Anup’s case, even my case was unanticipated.
TCG: Do you rate our players as good performers?
Gopichand: As a country we have not been a great sporting nation. We lack the basic sports culture, in the sense games do not interest us as much as politics or films do, of late thanks to cricket, people’s attention has moved towards sports. Otherwise we also lack the proper infrastructure.
TCG: Sports scenario for Indian women isn’t that bright either. What would you say about that?
Gopichand: We do not have enough role models or incentives for more women to come in to this. For instance, Sherapova inspires the entire nation and beckons the aspirants into the game with her talent, but Indians have always given more importance to the business, Ambanis are better known than any sports persons. Even politicians as I just told you are more popular, I am trying to say it’s good or bad but just saying that is the trend here. Cricket is changing the trend and revolutionizing the situation.
TCG: As you said change is happening, but only in the field of cricket, where do you think we are lacking?
Gopichand: We still need a revolutionary change to happen, like huge money, support on a large scale and committed people to take up this. These are the pre requisites which if provided would change the face of sports in our country. Since we never had a dearth of resources we should be able to do it.
TCG: Critics say it’s difficult to find good sportsmen in India who are physically fit; hence we are unable to do well in outdoor sports, now we are moving to less strenuous sport like archery. Do you agree with that?
Gopichand: I don’t really agree with that because in a country with a population of one billion it shouldn’t be problem to locate physically fit, sports inclined people. It’s just that we are not committed enough. Our talent search is not good enough. If we really intend to make sportsmen like other countries do, we need to scout for talent at very young age, take up the responsibility of grooming them into champions, right from the food they eat to the way they are trained. Food again is very important aspect often neglected. If a child has been eating not so healthy food in his prime years, he may not be able to withstand the rigour of the regime here. Physical strength and proper nutrition are very important.
TCG: About Indian Hockey team missing the Olympics?
Gopichand: Some times we need some shocks to realize where we stand. In fact I am surprised when politicians label the sportsmen of the country as not very competent. Tell me in which field did we make enviable progress? None. Our corporate are not the best ones, our beaurocrats are not well known, neither are our films. As a nation we haven’t really left a mark on the globe but for our movies, even in that we do not stand in the top ten, then why blame the sports people? The only fact is because we are ranked in sports we are clearly visible, otherwise we wouldn’t know even that. Sometimes when the media asks me this I tell them we are not producing the world’s best newspapers as well so why turn your grouse only to sports in particular? We are not the greatest think tanks, not great scientists, yes we have made way to NASA, but that again is not a part of our nation. Still I would be positive to say we are developing nation, stop this blame game, think and act progressively.
TCG: Coming back to the shortage of sports persons, tremendous pressure is building up on the existing champions. Country’s hopes are pinned on to one player and it seems very difficult to live up to the expectations. Like what happened to you and Anju Bobby George. What do you say about that?
Gopichand: We do not try to understand sports from a broader perspective, that failure is as much a part of the game as success. Yes I know what a national/international level player has to go through but I would say it’s a part of the game! Incidentally I would define success as giving your 100% in the field or court, and when you walk out, you do so with a sense of fulfillment and content, that you have ‘given’ yourself totally to the event. Of course keeping in mind that you are operating within the given frame work of facilities, time and resources. On a higher plane failure and success are just the same, they must be looked at with the same eye. I tell my students I am not bothered about the trophies or awards you get, but I certainly have a problem if you are not working hard and handle yourself in a haphazard way. When I see them undisciplined in any aspect I am really stern. I believe hard work never goes waste, may be it does not show instantaneous results but it does take you to your destination some day.
TCG: Whom do you see as upcoming badminton stars now?
Gopichand: Saina and Kashyap are very good as of now. In the upcoming ones we have Sikki Reddy and Sai Praneeth. We have also started another batch for kids of age ten and below. We are taking local kid for a simple reason that it involves travel, everyday rigorous training and easy access. As I told you they have to be very disciplined, focused, steady and dedicated. To have all these at such an early age is tough but that is how it ought to be if you want success. Saina had to make tons of sacrifices to be where she is now. One thing I love about sports I it makes your life so simple and nonsense free! You know what and where to eat, what to do, when to rest, and when to exercise. You know what is important for you. A normal person today gets entangled with unnecessary rigmarole and ends up taking antacids and anti depressants which I am sure a sportsman wouldn’t. Isn’t that a blessing? Isn’t that a lifestyle any sensible person vies for today?
TCG: Finally, what would you say to the students who are caught up in academics and hardly have leisure time to ‘sport’?
Gopichand: Keep your life simple, eat and rest well. Health is wealth so treasure it. Studies are important part of your life, so are the other things like your hobbies and passion prioritize things and be cheerful! Good luck!