SPORT GOPICHAND Gopichand to become India's chief badminton coach NEW DELHI, MAY 30 (PTI) Former All England Badminton Champion Pullela Gopichand is all set to take over as India's chief badminton coach for a four-year period. Gopichand, one of the finest shuttlers India has ever produced, will take over the reins from Vimal Kumar, whose three-year tenure ended with the Thomas Cup in Tokyo last month where India reached the quarterfinals. "In view of the major competitions coming up in the next few years, Badminton Association of India has decided to make Gopichand the chief coach till 2010," well-informed sources told PTI today. Gopichand was in the running for the top post after he was put in charge of India's campaign for the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games and the 2012 London Olympics. "He has already given his consent for the job and a formal announcement will be made tomorrow," sources said. The focus will be to deliver a promising crop of youngsters in the next few years, who could vie for top honours at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, World Badminton Championship in 2009 and 2012 Olympics. The 2009 Badminton World Championship is an important event as it would be India's first ever hosting of a World Championship in any Olympic discipline. Vimal Kumar's contract had expired after the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March but he was asked to continue till the Thomas Cup. Gopichand runs a badminton academy in Hyderabad and one of his protege is young Saina Nehwal, who became the first Indian woman to win a four-star event by clinching the title in the Philippines Open on Sunday. Gopichand became the second Indian to claim the coveted All England title after Prakash Padukone won it in 1980. He was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2000-2001 and the Padma Shri in 2005.
Gopi's email address I hv been trying to get in touch with gopichand ... my son plays badminton at the state level, wanted to find out about coaching at Gopi's academy. Can anyone help me?
