Author(s): Neetu Dutta and Dr. Nita Bandyopadhyay

Abstract:
An athlete reaches its summit of performance, is always glorious; but to achieve such success the athlete has to come across many odds and hardship. Pullela Gopichand a shuttler of India gradually and consistently reached such an extent where he became the supreme Badminton champion of the globe. This is thought to be perhaps due to his genetic endowment as most of his family members were inclined to Badminton. Despite his birth in Chirala village away from Hyderabad City, his involvement with Badminton initiated at the age of three years. He became gradually involved in a more organized form in the city of Hyderabad where he happened to be admitted under the guidance of SAI Hostel and dedicated coaches. The series of success started from U – 14 yrs. competition and his performance elevated linearly by leaps and bounds towards National Championship under the guidance of Mr. S. M. Arif and Prakash Padukone. Financial crisis could not hinder his progress because of sacrifice of the members of his family. He achieved Junior National Championship and Senior National Championship for consecutive five years. After severe knee injury pullela Gopichand was out of the court, but his tremendous grittiness brought him back to the court. In International Competition he won French Open, Scottish Open and All England Championship in 2001 and became Arjuna, Padmashree and Rajib Khel Ratna and Padmabhushan.

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