Pullela Gopichand Biography

Pullela Gopichand, affectionately known as Gops and Gopi, is a former Indian badminton player and coach. He made his international debut in 1991, competing against Malaysia. Under the guidance of mentors S. M. Arif and Ganguly Prasad, Gopichand achieved notable success.

Pullela Gopichand Height, Weight, Age, Biography, Wife & More

Including winning gold in the SAARC badminton tournament in 1996 and claiming victories in prestigious events like the Le Volant d’Or de Toulouse, Scottish Open, and India International tournament in 1999. Born on November 16, 1973, his contributions have significantly impacted Indian badminton.

Early Life

Pullela Gopichand’s early life was marked by a serendipitous shift from cricket to badminton at the age of 10 after a sunstroke incident while playing cricket. His family’s sacrifice, notably his mother selling her jewelry to buy him a racquet, underscored his early passion for the sport. Despite a setback due to a ligament injury at 13, Gopichand’s determination led him to triumph in inter-school competitions and national championships, laying the foundation for his illustrious badminton career.

Education

Pullela Gopichand’s hometown is Hyderabad, India, where he attended St. Paul’s High School for his schooling and later pursued his college education at A. V. College, Hyderabad. He graduated with a degree in Public Administration.

Age

Pullela Gopichand was born on November 16, 1973, in Nagandla, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, India. As of 2024, he is 51 years old, and his zodiac sign is Scorpio. Gopichand holds Indian nationality.

Physical Stats

Pullela Gopichand stands tall at 183 cm (6′ 0″) and maintains a weight of 64 kg (141 lbs). His body measurements include a chest size of 40 inches, a waist of 32 inches, and a biceps measuring 12 inches. He possesses captivating black eyes and maintains black hair.

Wife and Children

Pullela Gopichand has been happily married to P.V.V. Lakshmi, a former badminton player, since 2002. They have a daughter named Gayathri and a son named Vishnu.

Family

Pullela Gopichand hails from a Hindu family. His father, Pullela Subash Chandra, worked as a banker, and his mother’s name was Subbaravamma. He has a brother named Rajashekar Gopichand and a sister named Hima Bindu. In his leisure time, Gopichand enjoys reading and practicing yoga.

Pullela Gopichand with his Mother Subbaravamma

Pullela Gopichand with his Wife and Son

Pullela Gopichand Daughter Gayathri

Career

Pullela Gopichand’s badminton career is distinguished by remarkable achievements both as a player and a coach. As a player, he clinched numerous national and international titles, including the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships in 2001. Transitioning to coaching, Gopichand founded the Gopichand Badminton Academy in 2003, where he groomed several Indian badminton stars, such as Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, and Srikanth Kidambi, to global acclaim.

His coaching prowess propelled Indian badminton to unprecedented heights, culminating in P.V. Sindhu’s historic silver medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Gopichand’s dedication and vision have left an indelible mark on Indian badminton, earning him accolades and reverence both nationally and internationally.

Net Worth

Pullela Gopichand’s net worth is currently not known.

Some Lesser Known Facts About Pullela Gopichand

• Pullela used to play cricket earlier, but once he suffered from a sunstroke while playing cricket throughout the day, after which his brother introduced him to badminton when he was 10 years old.
• To get the best racquet for him to play, his mother sold her jewelry and bought him a racquet.
• When he was 13 years old, he ruptured a ligament, but the same year after surgery, he won the singles and the doubles titles in an inter-school competition.
• In 1989, he won his 1st singles title at the National Championship in Goa.
• In 1996, he won his 1st international singles title at the SAARC games in Vijayawada.
• He won his 1st National Championship title in 1996 and won it for 5 years consecutively till 2000.
• In 2001, he became the 2nd Indian to win the All England Open Badminton Championships after Prakash Padukone (father of Deepika Padukone).
• He trained Indian badminton stars like Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta, P. Kashyap, P.V. Sindhu, Srikanth Kidambi, and Tarun Kona at the Gopichand Badminton Academy.
• He is the recipient of prestigious awards such as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, and Padma Shri Award.
• In 2011, he released his biography “The World Beneath His Feet,” written by former national badminton champion and coach Sanjay Sharma and his daughter, Shachi.
• He is a follower of spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravishankar from The Art of Living.
• In 2016, his hard work as a coach paid off when P.V. Sindhu won the Silver Medal at the Rio Olympics, becoming the 1st Indian badminton player to do so.
• Does Pullela Gopichand smoke?: No
• Does Pullela Gopichand drink alcohol?: Not Known

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