Champion shuttlers K. Srikanth and H.S. Prannoy were named brand ambassadors for the ITM Group of Educational Institutions known for their business schools here on Thursday.
The two star players signed the documents in the presence of founder-chairman of the Group P.V. Ramana and chief national coach P. Gopi Chand.
“It is a great honour for us to be part of this highly-reputed group of educational institutions and hope the sport will also get a major fillip by way of many young kids taking it up with all seriousness,” the two star performers said.
“I am grateful to Gopi Sir for all the support ever since I joined his academy nine years ago. And, today I feel privileged to be in the company of a great player like Srikanth. I am always available if I can contribute for the promotion of the sport in any way in any of your institutions,” Prannoy said.
On his part, Srikanth also thanked ‘Gopi Anna’ for being a coach-cum-mentor. “But for him, I would not have been standing here and joining ITM Group is a great feeling,” he said.
Mr. Ramana said that they were feeling great that an illustrious personality like Gopi and the star players had joined “their family”.
The college believes in value additions to every student which should only enhance their image and character and not just in ensuring certificates to students, he said.
“I strongly hope that both Srikanth and Prannoy face each other more frequently at the highest level in the finals and earn a reputation which should ensure them a permanent place in the history of badminton like any of those legends like Lin Dan or a Lee Chong Wei,” Mr. Ramana said.
Gopi also felt it was a privilege to be part of a group which started off in 1991 and would provide inspiration to many youngsters to take up sport also apart from focussing on academics.