Latest news with #Gopichand
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Badminton: How Satwik-Chirag's success is bringing about a ‘tall' revolution in Indian men's doubles
Back in 2018, national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand had scouted for tall players to make an impact in the men's doubles category. The success enjoyed by the towering pairing of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has since convinced the top coaching brass that this was the way to go in the modern game. The long-term plan seems to have provided the desired result with three of that batch – all from Gopichand's Noida academy and now training at National Centre, Guwahati – becoming part of the Indian squad for the U19 Asian Junior Championship starting at Solo, Indonesia on Friday. Bhavya Chhabra is a towering 6-foot-3 from Vaishali in Ghaziabad, and spent most of June working on his agility under the strength and conditioning (S&C) programme at Reliance Foundations's Mumbai facility to improve his bends and squats low at the net. He is among a bunch of 8-10 tall youngsters, scouted seven years ago at the Noida facility. Chhabra and the other tall shuttlers in his batch have been encouraged to follow the template set by former World No.1 Shetty who, while being upwards of 6 feet, has a world-class net-game and has evolved into a versatile player. Chhabra's partner Param Choudhary, also from Ghaziabad and north of 6 feet, has styled his game on Rankireddy's, whose deceptive drops and low lifts cheekily feign a smash. The third in this tall group is C Lalramsanga, a Mizoram talent selected for mixed doubles. He is also training to master front-court skills, while Saharanpur shuttler Divyam Arora, who pairs with Arsh Mohammad, is 189 cm (6'1 1/2') and recently recorded a monster 63 cm jump at the Reliance facility, comparable to what the best Malaysians, known for their leaps. With Shetty as his idol, Arora is bursting his lungs, imbibing the creativity and agility needed to occupy the front court. They were all scouted out by Gopichand and his former lieutenant Mohd Siyadatullah, and are now trained at the National Centre in Guwahati by Russian 2016 All England doubles champion Ivan Sozonov, who understands a fair bit about tall agility and the European style of play, and can guide them to the next level. When the Noida academy was turned into an isolation centre in Covid times, the shuttlers moved to Hyderabad where many pairings were rejigged and new combinations tried out, which means that now there's a crop of carefully-curated tall doubles shuttlers. Shetty's game encouraged them to be versatile and step forward for the net role. So, they all boast of a big smash, but can also handle eyeball confrontations of fast drives at the net. Gopichand explains the thinking from back when they were in the 10-11 year range. 'Obviously, you don't know how tall they will shoot up. But they hit hard because they are tall, and the power element can't be stressed enough in international badminton. Stroke-wise for the net game in the front court, we stressed they should learn all skills early. Strength and speed can be worked on. Satwik and Chirag were massive role models for them,' he says, adding that a further 8-10 tall shuttlers are developing in Guwahati and Hyderabad. While Chirag Shetty, marginally taller than Satwiksairaj Reddy but taller than 6 feet, was encouraged to play in the front court a decade ago by Malaysian coach Tab Kim Her, it wasn't simply about standing a couple of steps ahead of his partner. He might have had the natural speed which helps him with the lightning quick interceptions at the net, but developing a natural front-court style needed a lot of work. It helped that Mathias Boe, his subsequent coach, had been a tall Danish Olympic finalist himself, and guided him through the basics of bending, absorbing the attack on the fast drives and the basic return of serve as he squatted and took the shuttle at eye level. This required a lot of agility drills and also managing his lower-back niggles, besides the mental adjustment of curbing his instinct of naturally drifting to the back court in a rally, and assuming an attacking position for leaping smashes. It was no less than a sacrifice for the Mumbaikar, and eventually led even Satwik to inculcate front-court skills to complete the champion pair. However, this is a miniscule number given India's size, and the national coach reckons all players, tall or small, will be encouraged to become all-rounders in rotation, and adapt to the front court. 'Their grassroot coaches deserve credit for starting skills and keeping an open mind on not just choice of singles and doubles but front court and back court as well,' he says. Still, for a country that barely qualified for the 2016 Olympics in men's doubles with a taller Sumeeth Reddy playing front court with Manu Attri, there is some progress. Chhabra says Chirag's game style inspired him but playing on the front court has come with its challenges. 'Satwik and Chirag set up the legacy and gave us belief and a headstart, and my favourite players growing up were Chirag and Indonesian legend Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo,' he says. 'So when coaches at Hyderabad said I should try front court, since I control the shuttle well, I felt ready because Chirag has succeeded there.' The challenges are plenty, though Shetty made them look easy. 'You have to learn to move quickly, bend, play strokes perfectly and have the agility to shift left and right which comes naturally to smaller players. My S&C trainer Arjun Jain is helping me overcome the height disadvantages,' Chhabra said. Arora, of the 63cm jump fame while grazing 6'2', says Shetty was a big reason he picked doubles. 'I think I'm a natural doubles player. I love it, and Chirag is my idol. I have good smashes from the back but also a good sense of the front court. I'm still far from perfect but I take bending as a challenge,' Arora says. He has built up his massive jump after a back surgery, and says Sozonov is teaching him how to think creatively as a front-court Choudhary, watching the Indonesian former World No.1s, dubbed Minions – Kevin and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon – addictively on loop, cured him of all singles ambitions. 'The Minions changed men's doubles skill- and speed-wise. They were everyone's idols but we are not built like them. We are taller. We have Satwik in India, who plays in a way so that you don't take pressure on the body. He starts with a big smash action and fools with drops and low lifts. Now we are also learning the European style through Sozonov, with tall and flat lifts,' he says. Like India's finest, Satwik-Chirag, this next batch is scouted out for their tall frames, but taught to hunker down and play flat, before leaping to explode.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Pullela Gopichand Inspires Youth at Rishi Chaitanya Ashram, Shares Transformative Role of Yog Nidra in Life and Training
Pullela Gopichand Gannaur, Sonepat Celebrated badminton champion and coach Pullela Gopichand visited Rishi Chaitanya Ashram , Gannaur, Sonepat, to meet revered master Anandmurti Gurumaa and address participants of the Summer Youth Retreat 2025 . His guest lecture was a source of inspiration for the young attendees, as he shared the profound impact of Yog Nidra on his own journey and now on the training of his students. Gopichand recounted the challenges and triumphs of his career, illustrating how Yog Nidra, as taught by Anandmurti Gurumaa, became a cornerstone of his routine. He detailed how regular Yog Nidra practice helped him maintain calmness under pressure, recover from setbacks, and sharpen his focus during high-stakes matches. He credited this ancient technique with not only supporting his victories but also with sustaining his mental resilience throughout his professional life. Now, as a mentor to India's next generation of badminton stars, Gopichand shared that he has made Yog Nidra a mandatory part of daily training at his academy. He requires students to practice it twice daily, emphasizing its benefits for mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being—qualities essential for both athletic and personal growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Men Over 50: Frequent Urination & Weak Stream? Do this Before Bed healthydayscare Click Here Undo During his address, Gopichand congratulated all the retreat participants, expressing that they are fortunate to learn life lessons from Anandmurti Gurumaa at such a young age. He highlighted the unique opportunity the youth have to integrate practices—such as yoga, meditation, and Yog Nidra—into their lives, setting a foundation for future success and fulfillment. Gopichand's visit underscored the importance of blending traditional wisdom with modern training, inspiring the youth to explore their full potential through both physical and mental discipline. Why Arjun Was Chosen: The Untold Secret of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 3
Hans India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Gopichand's ferocious avatar unveiled
Macho Star Gopichand is presently starring in a new film, #Gopichand33, being directed by the visionary Sankalp Reddy and produced by Srinivasaa Chitturi of Srinivasaa Silver Screen, with Pavan Kumar presenting. The grand historical epic, being mounted on a massive scale with a high budget, is progressing steadily with its shoot. To mark Gopichand's birthday, the makers dropped a jaw-dropping special poster and a glimpse that has fans roaring with excitement. And what a transformation it is! Gopichand unleashes a ferocious warrior avatar, sporting long hair, a thick battle-worn beard, a fiery sindoor-streaked forehead, and eyes brimming with intensity. Seated with resolute calm, sword in hand and a battlefield in the backdrop, the poster screams power and valour. Coming to the glimpse—set against the stunning canvas of icy mountain ranges—it opens with a mystic calm. The protagonist, as a warrior, steps out of his tent. In a touching moment of serenity, he bonds with his horse, placing his head against hers, whispering a silent vow. Backed by the stirring 'Dheera Dheera' score, the visuals hit like a bang—majestic and meditative. Director Sankalp Reddy, known for his unique storytelling and technical brilliance in critically acclaimed films like 'IB 71' (set in the sky), 'Ghazi' (set on water), and 'Antariksham' (set in space), now ventures into uncharted territory. Sankalp Reddy presents a visually stunning and captivating portrayal of a crucial and forgotten event in Indian history. Set in the 7th century, the film delves deep into a significant yet unexplored historical event, bringing to life a forgotten chapter of Indian heritage. Gopichand will be seen in a never-before-seen role, showcasing his versatility as an actor. The first schedule was completed in the picturesque locales of Kashmir in April. The breathtaking visuals are set to look epic on the big screen. The shoot has now resumed on a grand and massive set erected in Hyderabad for the next schedule. Further details about the cast and technical crew will be revealed soon.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Happy Birthday Gopichand; Makers drop Samurai-inspired look from ‘Gopichand 33'
Picture Credit: X Actor Gopichand is celebrating his birthday today, and marking the occasion, the makers of his upcoming film, tentatively titled 'Gopichand 33', treated fans to a gripping glimpse of the actor in a never-before-seen avatar. Set in a historical setting The film is directed by Sankalp Reddy of 'The Ghazi Attack fame', and is expected to revolve around the lesser-known historical event from the 7th century. Gopichad's look The makers shared the poster, in which Gopichand is seen sporting a full-beard look and donning samurai-inspired battle gear, standing tall and radiating raw power and determination. The visuals hint at a fierce warrior, a man with purpose and unshakeable grit. — SS_Screens (@SS_Screens) They wrote, "He is ready to ignite a revolution Unleashing the Fierce Warrior Here's #Gopichand33 Birthday Glimpse Happy Birthday to the one who shapes his own path and conquers destiny, our Macho Star @YoursGopichand! A Historic Epic is in the making..." The makers also shared a teaser along with the poster. In the 34-second clip, Gopichand's character is seen coming out of his tent which is set on the snowy mountains. As comes out of the tent, he tends to his horse. The makers wrote, "Feel the power & courage in the #Gopichand33 Birthday Glimpse". The team has kept plot details under wraps. Production in full swing As per 123Telugu, the team recently wrapped the film's first schedule and has already begun work on the second. A massive set replicating the 7th-century setting has been erected in Hyderabad, where shooting is currently underway. The production is said to be operating on a grand scale with extensive set designs, authentic costumes, and action choreography suited for the period.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
What's the reasons behind Indian badminton's descent from the glory days?
Lack of structured training Back to May 2025. The youngsters still look half-cooked. On a few occasions, there seems to be a visible lack in strength and stamina because of which they cannot control rallies. End game seems weak and if a match lasts longer they seem exhausted, both mentally and physically. Like one expert had pointed out, a sport like badminton needs supremely fit players. The sport relies on fitness, strength and endurance to be precise and until and unless there is a structured programme, this cannot be achieved. It has to be groomed right from the grassroots through a systematic programme. So does India have such a programme? Strength and conditioning is an integral part of training in an aerobic sport like badminton. One doesn't have to go far. Take the example of Indian hockey. After the 2016 Rio Games, there was a systematic overhaul and one such focal point was fitness. That not only helped them with speed but with more endurance they lasted longer like Duracell batteries. In badminton, however, players train everywhere so monitoring needs to be stricter and robust. Like other federations because of SAI and other organisations and foundations top players don't lack a physio or a trainer like in the good old days. Undermining coaching plan? There have been occasions when parents became a tad overzealous while supporting their wards. There have been incidents when a few even accompany their wards with or without the knowledge of BAI or SAI. Some point towards the funds they have been getting from various sources. Sometimes, despite the BAI fixing the calendar in consultation with coaches, a few players find ways to participate without consulting the federation. There are allegations that parents or relatives morph as personal coaches and travel with players. This could seriously undermine the coaching system. The BAI and SAI's Target Olympic Scheme Division under the new Chief Executive Officer have been working towards restricting such unsavoury incidents. According to the latest directive by the sports ministry, only coaches who are part of the national camps should travel with teams/players. There have been instances when they also try to get their coaches in the system. Sometimes, they even hide injuries. It is a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. With a multi-layered command system, there's bound to be confusion. Back in those days there was one Gopichand or Vimal. But now who decides for players? The chief national coach, the BAI or other individuals and foundations connected with the players? Roles need to be defined for better accountability and hope BAI is doing it. Nurturing youngsters is always tricky. They need to be monitored constantly and brought up with care. Deciding competition for players also is critical and should fall in the domain of chief coach or High Performance Director. It is understood that there are ambiguities here as well. The roles of foreign coaches too were foggy last year. But the SAI and BAI have formed a policy wherein a coach hired for a team will remain with the team and not turn into an individual coach. For Indian badminton to rise from ashes, a lot of things have to fall in place.
