The Hyderabad-based P Gopichand Academy, which has produced several top shuttlers, including Rio Olympic Games silver medalist Pusarla V Sindhu, has tied up with the IDBI Federal Life Insurance in an initiative termed "Quest for Excellence".
Expressing happiness over the development, chief national badminton coach Gopichand described it as "a fantastic offer."
"On returning from the Rio Olympics, I was approached by Vignesh Shahane (CEO of IDBI Federal Life Insurance) and was told that they wanted to help the academy. We have always been struggling for funds and this offer is fantastic," said Gopichand at a media conference today.
"It will be better for our players and the support we will receive will make it (academy) more successful. It will help support our junior players and in appointing physiologists and sports analysts," said the highly successful national badminton coach.
"I am very fortunate to have wonderful students. Post Olympics, the idea was to expand the academy. There have been certain talks with some state governments. With this tie-up, the peaks can go higher and the base of young players larger," Gopichand added.
"An association with Gopichand Academy strongly reflects our commitment to this game and grassroots sports development in India," said Shahane, adding his company was fully committed to support the endeavour to create more world-class badminton players.
Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and P Kashyap, who were present, praised Gopichand's contribution to Indian badminton.
"I am where I am because of him," said Srikanth, a quarter finalist at Rio.
"The system is very good because of him (Gopichand). He's constantly improving and evolving as a coach. No other coach in the world has got the results he has as a single coach as compared to 20 or so in China and Korea," said Kashyap, who reached the last eight in the 2012 London Olympics.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
