PV Sindhu rejects report of difficulties with Pullela Gopichand

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Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu, one of India’s most recognized badminton players, has stated that the reports of her apparent problems with coach Pullela Gopichand are baseless.

PV Sindhu

GOPICHAND IS AN INFLUENCE ON HER CAREER

Though her parents played professional volleyball, she chose badminton over it because she drew inspiration from the success of Pullela Gopichand, the 2001 All England Open Badminton Champion. Soon after beginning to play badminton, she joined Pullela Gopichand’s Gopichand Badminton Academy. Thus, Gopichand has been a recognizable influence upon her career.

Nevertheless, the last year has seen reports of difficult situations being discussed. The reports escalated as Sindhu left a National camp midway for London, where she stayed for quite some time. Now, she has shifted her base from Gopichand Academy to Gachibowli badminton halls.

SINDHU REFUTED CLAIMS OF HAVING ANY DIFFICULTY WITH HIM

She refused the truth of any difficulty with Gopichand: “I don’t see any differences with Gopichand. Everything is fine between us,” she said.

THE REASON BEHIND HER SHIFTING OF BASE

Sindhu, in an interview to Times Of India, said that her decision to move her training base should not be taken read in a different light. There should not be any comparison between the facilities available to her under Gopichand and Park Tae Sang. She requested the Badminton Association Of India (BAI) for permission to train there till Tokyo Olympics 2021, which was granted. She has heard that the doubles shuttlers will also train there.

“I had requested the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for the same and the permission was granted to me. I have heard that the doubles players would also be training at the Gachibowli for the Olympics,” she said.

Sindhu went on to explain why she decided to shift base. The indoor arena size there, she said, was of international standards, which was similar to that of the badminton venue at the Tokyo Olympics and what shuttlers generally experienced during international tournaments. Another aspect to become familiar with was that of the AC blowers, which created drift inside the indoor stadium.

According to her, understanding drift was the major factor between her move. Most venues at Hyderabad did not have the blowers, thus she had to try and understand the nature of drift.

“Getting used to the drift because of the effect blowers will have on the shuttlecock will help us at the Olympics. Most of the academies in Hyderabad don’t have the blowers, so we miss understanding the drift. Here, at the Gachibowli indoor arena, you can master the drift factor,” she commented.

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