Who's Behind India's Badminton Success?

who is india badminton coach

The Indian national badminton team has enjoyed success in international tournaments in recent years, with the men's team winning the Thomas Cup in 2022 and the women's team reaching the semifinals of the Uber Cup in 2014 and 2016. The team is currently ranked 9th in the world and has won medals at the Summer Olympics, BWF World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. The Indian badminton team's success can be attributed to the players' hard work and the guidance of their coaches. One of the most prominent coaches in Indian badminton is Pullela Gopichand, who has been the chief coach of the Indian badminton teams for many years and has trained successful players such as Kidambi Srikanth. Other notable coaches include Vimal Kumar, Vijaydeep, and Mathias Boe, who have all contributed to the development of Indian badminton players and the country's success in international competitions. Additionally, PV Sindhu, one of India's most successful badminton players, recently appointed Anup Sridhar as her new coach, adding to the talented pool of coaches in Indian badminton.

Characteristics Values
Name of India Badminton Coach Anup Sridhar
Appointed by PV Sindhu
Appointed Date 24th September 2024
Appointed on Trial basis
Consulting Coach Lee Hyun-il
Nationality Indian
Former Coach of Lakshya Sen
Training Location Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Stadium
Next Tournament Arctic Open
Chief Coach Pullela Gopichand

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PV Sindhu appoints Anup Sridhar as her new coach

Two-time Olympic medallist and India's most successful badminton player, PV Sindhu, has appointed Anup Sridhar as her new coach on a trial basis. Sindhu's father and former Indian volleyball player, PV Ramana, confirmed the news earlier this week.

Sridhar, a former Olympian and 2007 Asian Championships bronze medallist, will work with Sindhu for the remainder of the 2024 badminton season. Sindhu has been training under Sridhar at Hyderabad's Gachibowli Stadium since the start of September and will head to the Arctic Open in Finland in the second week of October.

"We are looking for a new coach with Agus's [Indonesia's Agus Dwi Santoso] contract ending, Ramana told The Indian Express. "We are keen to see how a partnership with Anup Sridhar works out and are looking at four-five names going forward. Anup will travel to Finland and train her in Hyderabad."

PV Sindhu shared her excitement about the new appointment: "Anup's understanding of Indian badminton and his strategic approach have always impressed me. Having Lee [former world No. 1 Lee Hyun-il of South Korea, who joins as a consulting coach], with his meticulous preparation and legendary experience, is an honour. I've always respected his attention to detail, and I can't wait to learn from him over the next few months."

Sindhu has struggled with injuries since her gold medal win at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Sridhar has noticed decent improvements in her form over the past three weeks and aims to restore consistency and get her back on the podium.

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India's national badminton team

The India national badminton team represents India in international badminton tournaments and is governed by the Badminton Association of India. The men's team won the Thomas Cup in 2022, while the women's team has reached the semifinals of the Uber Cup in 2014 and 2016. The Indian team is currently ranked 9th in the world and has won medals at the Summer Olympics, BWF World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.

The Indian badminton team has had several notable coaches over the years. One of the most prominent coaches is Pullela Gopichand, a former England champion who has been the chief coach of the Indian badminton team for many years. Gopi, as he is often called, runs his academy in Hyderabad and is also a vice-president of the Badminton Association of India. He has trained top players such as Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal.

Another influential coach is Vimal Kumar, who has had an illustrious career as a player himself. He won the national title in 1988 and 1989 and was part of the Indian team that won a bronze medal at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul. Vimal is the co-founder and chief coach of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore. He has trained players like Gopichand and Saina Nehwal and is currently the personal coach of Lakshya Sen, a top singles player.

Mathias Boe, a former London Games silver medallist, has also made significant contributions to the Indian badminton team. He coached the Indian duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, helping them achieve success against Chinese opponents. Boe's coaching style was intense and passionate, and he worked closely with his players on both the psychological and physical aspects of the game. Despite his dedication, Boe decided to retire from coaching after the 2024 Summer Olympics, expressing the stress and burnout he experienced.

In addition to these coaches, PV Sindhu, India's most successful badminton player, recently appointed Anup Sridhar as her new coach on a trial basis for the remainder of the 2024 badminton calendar. Sindhu has also added Lee Hyun-il of South Korea as a consulting coach to her team. Anup Sridhar has previously coached Lakshya Sen and impressed Sindhu with his understanding of Indian badminton and his strategic approach.

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Pullela Gopichand, chief coach of the Indian badminton team

Pullela Gopichand is the Chief National Coach for the Indian badminton team. He was born on November 16, 1973, in Nagandla, Andhra Pradesh, India. Gopichand's family moved to Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh state when he was a young boy. He started playing badminton at the age of 11, initially playing recreationally rather than competitively. He was more interested in cricket, but his brother, Pullela Rajasekhar, encouraged him to take up badminton. He gradually began participating in local competitions and was selected for his state's junior badminton team in 1991.

Gopichand won the junior national championship at age 18 and began to ascend the Indian badminton rankings. He moved to Bangalore to train at the badminton academy run by Prakash Padukone, whom he would later join as one of only two Indians to have won the All England men's singles badminton championship. Before this, in 1996, he won his first National Badminton Championship title, going on to win the title five times in a row until 2000. At the international level, he represented India in three Thomas Cup tournaments and won a silver medal in the team event and a bronze in men's singles at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

In 2006, the Badminton Association of India named Gopichand the coach of the Indian national badminton team. He has been credited with the Olympic medal wins of female badminton players Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu. He founded the Gopichand Badminton Academy in 2008, which has produced several badminton players, including Nehwal and Sindhu. Gopichand is the recipient of numerous awards, including two of India's highest civilian honors: the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan. He has also received India's top sporting awards: the Arjuna Award, the Khel Ratna, and the Dronacharya Award.

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Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore

The Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) is a long-term badminton coaching academy for elite players competing at the national and international levels. It is based at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence (PDCSE), a world-class integrated sports complex in Bengaluru near Kempegowda International Airport. The centre offers badminton coaching on 16 badminton courts, as well as facilities for cricket, soccer, swimming, squash, shooting, tennis, and basketball. The academy is partnered with Infosys Foundation, Sunrise Sports (India) Private Limited, and R-Systems International Ltd to provide coaching on a highly subsidised basis.

PPBA was set up by Prakash Padukone and Vimal Kumar as an offshoot of Padukone Sports Management (PSM). PSM is managed independently and offers entry-level and short-term coaching programs for badminton lovers of all levels, from beginners to advanced adults, under the slogan "Badminton for All".

Prakash Padukone is a well-known name in badminton. He was the first Indian to win the All England Open Badminton Championships in 1980. He also won a gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the 1972 Asian Games. Padukone has also coached the Indian national badminton team and has been awarded the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

While the focus of this answer is on the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, it is worth noting that as of September 2024, the Indian badminton player PV Sindhu has appointed Anup Sridhar as her new coach on a trial basis. Sindhu is India's most successful badminton player, with a gold medal at the World Championships in 2019, a silver medal at Rio 2016, and a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, among other achievements.

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Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India's badminton duo

The Indian badminton team has seen great success in recent years, with the men's team winning the Thomas Cup in 2022 and the women's team reaching the semifinals of the Uber Cup in 2014 and 2016. The Indian badminton players PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen are coached by Anup Sridhar, who was appointed in September 2024. Sindhu also has a consulting coach, Lee Hyun-il of South Korea.

Now, let's focus on the dynamic duo of India's badminton circuit, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, born on August 13, 2000, in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, began his badminton journey by following in the footsteps of his father and elder brother. He joined the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad in 2014 and decided to specialise in doubles.

Rankireddy and his men's doubles partner, Chirag Shetty, have achieved numerous groundbreaking feats in Indian badminton. They became the first Indian men's doubles pair to secure the World Number 1 ranking and have won gold medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Championships. They are also the first Indian doubles pair to win a BWF Superseries or BWF World Tour (Super 500+) title, claiming the Thailand Open title in 2019.

In 2022, the duo started the year strongly by winning the India Open. They played a crucial role in India's Thomas Cup victory, displaying tenacity and perseverance in the final against Indonesia. Rankireddy and Shetty then won gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, defeating Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in the final. They also won a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships, becoming the first Indian men's doubles pair to achieve this feat.

The following year, in 2023, Rankireddy and Shetty continued their winning streak. They won their first title as a pair in the Swiss Open and were crowned Asian Champions at the Asian Championships in Dubai. The duo went on to win their first BWF World Super 1000 title at the Indonesia Open, defeating Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. They also won the Korea Open, showcasing their dominance in the doubles circuit.

In 2024, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty created history once again by becoming the first Indian badminton doubles pair to reach the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics. They showcased their skills and determination, securing commanding victories over their opponents. With their exceptional talent and dedication, Rankireddy and Shetty have taken Indian men's doubles badminton to new heights, inspiring future generations of players.

Frequently asked questions

The Indian national badminton team does not appear to have a single head coach. However, the team is governed by the Badminton Association of India and former England champion Pullela Gopichand has been the chief coach of the Indian badminton teams for several years.

The coaches of the Indian men's badminton team include Vimal Kumar, Vijaydeep, and Mathias Boe.

PV Sindhu, India's most successful badminton player, has chosen Anup Sridhar as her new coach on a trial basis for the remainder of the 2024 badminton calendar.

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