Quick Info
| Profession | Badminton Player, Coach |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 16/11/1973 |
| Age | 52 years |
| Birthplace | Nagandla, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, India |
Latest News about Pullela Gopichand
Gopichand commented on India's performance at the BWF World Championships after his daughter Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly secured a bronze medal in women's doubles. The result gave India its first women's doubles medal at the World Championships in 15 years and was described as a significant breakthrough for the pair.
Pullela Gopichand was part of the launch of the Indian School of Coaching Excellence, an initiative by the Neeraj Chopra Foundation, Badminton Gurukul, and AISTS India. The program aims to improve coach education and build a stronger sports ecosystem in India.
A task force led by Pullela Gopichand recommended using PMKVY and CSR funds to strengthen India’s sports coaching infrastructure. The report proposed a parallel 'TOPS for Coaches' scheme to fund high-performing coaches for advanced training and technology tools, alongside 'Pathway Progression Grants' for institutions that successfully move athletes from district to state or national levels.
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Physical Stats & More
| Height | 183 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 64 kg |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Personal Life
| School | St Paul's High School, Hyderabad |
|---|---|
| College | A. V. College, Hyderabad |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|---|
| Affairs/Girlfriends | P.V.V. Lakshmi (Former badminton player) |
| Wife | P.V.V. Lakshmi (Former badminton player, 2002-present) |
| Children |
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Family
| Father | Pullela Subash Chandra Bose (Banker) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Pullela Subbaravamma |
| Siblings |
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Career
| International Debut | In 1991, against Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Coach/Mentor | S. M. Arif and Prakash Padukone |
| Achievements |
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| Favourite Shot | Jump smash |
| Current Position | Chief National Coach for Indian Badminton Team |
| Academy Founded | Gopichand Badminton Academy (2008) |
Awards & Honours
| Arjuna Award | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Padma Shri | 2005 |
| Dronacharya Award | 2009 |
| Padma Bhushan | 2014 |
| Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna | 2001 |
Favourites
| Favourite Food | Biryani |
|---|---|
| Favourite Film | Kick (Telugu film) |
| Favourite Book | The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma |
Social Media
| https://www.instagram.com/gopichandpullela/ |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Pullela Gopichand does not smoke. | |
| 2. It is not known if Pullela Gopichand drinks alcohol. | |
| 3. He was introduced to badminton by his brother at the age of 10 after suffering from a sunstroke while playing cricket. | |
| 4. At 13, he won singles and doubles titles in an inter-school competition after recovering from a ligament rupture. | |
| 5. His mother sold her jewellery to buy him a racquet for playing badminton. | |
| 6. Gopichand won his first National Championship title in 1989 in Goa. | |
| 7. He clinched his first international singles title at the SAARC games in Vijayawada in 1996. | |
| 8. From 1996 to 2000, he won the National Championship title consecutively for 5 years. | |
| 9. In 2001, Pullela Gopichand became the second Indian to win the All England Open Badminton Championships. | |
| 10. Facing difficulties, he mortgaged his house to establish the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad in 2003. | |
| 11. Gopichand trained badminton stars like Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, and Srikanth Kidambi at his academy. | |
| 12. He has received prestigious awards including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna, and Padma Shri Award. | |
| 13. In 2011, his biography "The World Beneath His Feet" was released, authored by Sanjay Sharma and Shachi. | |
| 14. Pullela Gopichand follows spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravishankar from The Art of Living. | |
| 15. His coaching efforts paid off when P.V. Sindhu won Silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016, becoming the first Indian badminton player to do so. | |
| 16. He started coaching in 2004 and founded the Gopichand Badminton Academy in 2008. | |
| 17. He has received prestigious awards including the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, Dronacharya Award, and Padma Bhushan. | |
| 18. As of 2024, India's two Olympic medals in badminton have been won under his stewardship as coach. | |
| 19. He has been credited with popularizing badminton in India. |