High time to encourage sports, says Gopichand
Faridabad, August 6
Pullela Gopichand, a former international shuttler, today inaugurated a badminton academy at a private school here today.
Speaking on the occasion, he said: “Indian Badminton players have established themselves as a kind of superpower in the world with historic victories in the recent past and this is the time to motivate youngsters to go all out in the sports arena.”
“The fact that our players have toppled 14-time champion Indonesia with a 3-0 victory in the Thomas Cup Final in May confirms this,” said Gopichand.
Currently, the chief coach for the national badminton team, he had won the All England Open Badminton Championship in 2001, becoming the second Indian to achieve this feat after Prakash Padukone. He runs the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad.
The badminton maestro further said: “It is high time we encourage youngsters to get involved in sports. I am glad to be associated with a prominent school here, which lays equal emphasis on education and sports to promote physical literacy. I hope the partnership between the school and the Badminton Gurukul Academy, Hyderabad, will produce future champions.”
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the academy and the school.
