IOC Coaches Awards: 'Honourable mention' for Gopichand

NEW DELHI: Badminton national chief coach Pullela Gopichand has received an honourable mention in the 2019 Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards instituted by the International Olympic Committee. 

Gopichand has been integral in the rise of Indian badminton over the past decade with the likes of Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth, all being products of his coaching academy. 

“I am pleased to inform you that an Honourable Mention is being awarded to Mr Pullela Gopichand for the male category of the 2019 IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards,” the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission stated. 

“The Panel wish to recognise his efforts in the development of Badminton in India, his efforts in supporting athletes across sports and his contribution to the Olympic Movement.” 

The awards is an initiative of the Commission to recognise achievements of coaches towards developing a sport in their country in line with the Olympic values. Athletics coach Malcolm Arnold from Great Britain and artistic gymnastic coach Ulla Koch from Germany were announced as the 2019 winners.