Saina returns to Gopi's academy
DH News Service, New Delhi, Sep 5 2017, 0:59 IST
Shuttler ends three-year association with Vimal Kumar
Back home In a quest to achieve her goals, Saina Nehwal (left) will return to coach Pullela Gopichand.
Saina Nehwal is back to Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, thus ending her three year association with coach U Vimal Kumar.
Saina, who learned the nuances of badminton under Pullela Gopichand, parted ways with him ahead of the 2014 Asian Games. She then shifted base to Bangalore to train under Vimal at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.
She had a phenomenal run with Vimal which included winning her maiden India Open Super Series title, the World No 1 ranking and the silver medals at the All England and World Championships in 2015.
A career-threatening knee injury brought a painful end to her Rio Games campaign. She, however, returned to the circuit by November last and ended up with a bronze in World Championships. Since the Worlds, talks of her reunion with Gopichand were doing the rounds. The success of new coach, Mulyo Handoyo, best known for coaching Taufik Hidayat, with Indian players was also one of the reasons for Saina’s shift.
On his part, Gopichand on Monday confirmed Saina’s return to him, but insisted it was best left to her to do the talking. Saina then issued a series of tweets stating her belief that Gopichand could help her achieve her career goals.
“For a while I’ve been thinking about moving my training base back to the Gopichand academy and I had a discussion about this with Gopi sir and I am really thankful to him for agreeing to help me again. At this stage in my career I think he can help me achieve my goals. I am very happy to be back home and train in Hyderabad,” Saina wrote on her twitter handle.
She also thanked Vimal for his contribution. “I’m also very thankful to Vimal sir for helping me for the last three years. He helped reach world no 1 in the rankings ..and also helped me win two world championships medal silver in 2015 and bronze in 2017 along with many super series titles.”
Vimal graceful
Meanwhile, Vimal wholeheartedly supported Saina’s decision. “Saina on her return from the World Badminton Championships asked my opinion on her working with the Indonesian coach,Mr Mulyo, brought in by Sports Authority Of India, for looking after the singles players in National camps. He is attached with Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad. I had indicated to her that there is no harm at all in her giving it a try,” Vimal said in a statement.
“Players have a short span at the top and will always be looking at ways to get better. Saina and Sindhu are special girls and if they are able to get even better, we should provide them those opportunities. We at Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy supported Saina when she needed.”
Speaking to DH, Vimal said at the very top level an athlete has to think about himself. “When a player has mentally made up his mind, then there is no point in forcing. We have to respect their decision. I am absolutely fine with it if she feels the need to explore something. Also she was lonely here. Her parents are in Hyderabad. So it was tough for her to shift base to Bangalore.”