'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMG/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAX/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAJawlP8A/8QAIRAAAQMEAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAFERIiBhMWIYH/2gAIAQEAAT8A6Mk3Gcze0XN5oaTF9kxwc8TsQc/K8uio4rYeCx6OEpIr/8QAGREAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAAwQR/9oACAECAQE/AN+ixD1TP//EABkRAAIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAISAAMEBf/aAAgBAwEBPwDm5aSBVn//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
As anticipation mounts for the Paris Olympics 2024, India's sporting trajectory continues to soar. While athletes often bask in the limelight, the crucial role of coaches in shaping their careers often goes unnoticed.
In this article, we put a spotlight on three Indian coaches whose contributions have been instrumental in propelling Indian athletes to Olympic glory.
#1 Pullela Gopichand
Pullela Gopichand currently serves as the Chief National Coach for the Indian badminton team. His illustrious career as a player, including a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and the prestigious All England Open title, laid the foundation for his coaching career.
Renowned for his tactical acumen and discipline-oriented approach, Pullela Gopichand's leadership at the Gopichand Badminton Academy has nurtured a generation of world-class players. Notable achievements under Gopichand's coaching include Saina Nehwal's bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics and PV Sindhu's silver medal at the Rio Olympics.
Trending
Additionally, players like Kidambi Srikanth, Sai Praneeth and Parupalli Kashyap have thrived under his guidance, solidifying his legacy as one of India's foremost badminton coaches.
#2 Satpal Singh
Satpal Singh's journey from a wrestling champion to a revered coach epitomizes dedication and passion. A gold medalist in the 1982 Asian Games, Guru Satpal's legacy extends beyond personal achievements.
His wrestling training centre at Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium has become synonymous with excellence, nurturing champions. Under his tutelage, wrestlers like Sushil Kumar, who secured bronze at 2008 Beijing and silver at 2012 London, Yogheswar Dutt, a bronze medalist at 2012 London, and Ravi Kumar Dahiya, a silver medalist at 2020 Tokyo, have risen to Olympic glory.
These wrestlers earned multiple medals across prestigious events like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games too.
Beyond coaching, Satpal's contributions extend to guiding India's wrestling fraternity and fostering talent through his role as Chief Patron of the School Games Federation of India.
#3 Gaurav Khanna
Gaurav Khanna's pioneering efforts in para-badminton have transformed India's sporting landscape. As the head coach of the Indian para-badminton team, Gaurav Khanna's vision and leadership have propelled para-athletes to unprecedented success on the global stage.
His establishment of the Gaurav Khanna Excellia Badminton Academy has provided a nurturing environment. The Indian Para-Badminton team, under his guidance, has achieved remarkable success, clinching a total of 920 medals in BWF-recognized international tournaments
Under his mentorship, Indian para-badminton players have secured numerous medals at international tournaments, including the Tokyo Paralympics. Notable athletes such as Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar have earned Paralympic medals.
