Gopichand says his biggest award will be when an Indian wins an Olympic Gol

Dronacharya is welcome, but my biggest award will be when an Indian wins a Badminton world championship or Olympic gold, says Gopichand

Dronacharya is welcome,u00a0but my biggest awardu00a0will be when an Indianu00a0wins a Badminton world championshipu00a0or Olympic gold,u00a0says Gopichand

Awards have always chased Pullela Gopichand. As much as he would play down their importance, Gopichand's contribution to badminton has been great, ensuring a steady flow of accolades.

Coach Pullela Gopichand with Saina Nehwal during the 2008 Beijing Olympics

The National Badminton Federation nominated Gopi for the prestigious Dronacharya Award and the sports ministry accepted it yesterday.

The Drona is another feather in Gopi's cap, after he won the Arjuna Award in 1999, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2001 after he won the All England and the Padma Shree that followed a couple of years later.

"In many ways, I feel the journey has just begun. If you ask me how I feel at this juncture of my life, I will say these awards are welcome, but cosmetic in many ways. My biggest award will be when an Indian player wins the World championships and/or the Olympic gold in 2012," says the soft-spoken Hyderabadi.

For a man who was almost written off when he suffered an excruciating knee injury in the 1994 National Games at Pune, Gopi indeed has come extremely far as player and coach. Never in 1994 or during the years of recovering from surgeries did he ever believe that he would not pick up a racquet again.

"Dr Raj Gopal did a miracle with me. But I never give up and I never think of long-term goals. I take each step as it comes. What is in your destiny cannot be taken away. I believe in giving my best in whatever I am doing. The right effort is more important than anything else," he emphasises.

Going higher
For the moment, Gopi believes the time is right for Indian badminton to reach a higher level.

"We are at a precarious stage. We are doing well in certain areas, but so much more has to be done. We must get the system in place and believe in work being done now not leave anything for tomorrow. That is important."

A serious person with lots of self-discipline, one remembers conducting coaching camps with him in 2000 and 2001 as national coach. At the Sports Authority of India hostel in Bangalore where our team stayed, Gopi would not use the fan in the room in spite of the summer heat. He wanted to get used to living in any condition. He did a lot of yoga to control his mind. "A strong mind is the key to everything," he maintains.

The characteristics that helped him become a better player are aiding him to become a better coach too.

"Since I have gone through the same grind as a player, it is easier for me to communicate my ideas. I understand how players feel and how they will react in a given situation. This is important and this is one factor I feel helps me communicate with Saina (Nehwal) and others better."

At his academy, Gopi is doing his bit to make the game reach more people. "I will be very happy if the game blossoms and becomes more popular in the country. This will create a strong base for the future," he says.

And how does he see India's future in badminton?

"Well, I am a great optimist. I think that we can easily have three to four players in top ten to 15 of the world.
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I really feel if there is a country, which can beat China in the near future, it has to be India. We have the depth and commitment and now the resources at our command to achieve the dream."

If there's anyone who can lead India towards its true destiny as a badminton powerhouse, it has to be this self-effacing genius.

The writer is a former India player