Chief national coach of Indian badminton team, Gopichand gives his perspective on the historic win in the Thomas Cup and steps to be taken for betterment of badminton in India. Excerpts:
Q: Do you think that the Thomas Cup win has now set a base for a long lasting, successful ecosystem to be put in place?
A: I think in the last few years there’s been sustained effort from the government, especially to ensure that a systematic program project model for sport is developed in the country and badminton is also striving to be that. I think as an ecosystem, we are diverse we at large as a country before have grown tremendously in the sport, and it makes it very tough for us also to make a system with which all the stakeholders are coming on board.
So, we are in that process and I do hope that with the support of Badminton Association of India president Himanta Biswa Sarma, the government and the ministry under the leadership of Mr Anurag Thakur and our honourable Prime Minister we will be able to streamline and bring the process, which actually makes this win more sustainable and more consistent in the future.
Q: Do you believe that this could be the game changer in uber cup prospects?
A: I think in some sense, the Uber cup with Sindhu and Saina there, I’m sure it would probably have been a much quicker place to be reaching. But I think when you work together as a team and when you have some strength in your women’s doubles, I think even that is possible. And I’m hoping that that’s something that will happen sooner than later.
Q: Did you manage to speak to Prakash sir and recall the efforts both of you have taken after Thomas Cup triumph?
A: Yes, I did speak to him and it was really nice. Because, I think for us, I and the seniors who played sport, this could have been in some sense the pinnacle of a team win or a connection of badminton in some sense. Because I remember even in pre-casters time they qualified once to the finals, in my time they qualified for the finals. And when you talk about the finals we are trying to be one of the 16 team in the world that itself is an achievement and today. The boys actually going out there to bring out the best results and be the number one in the world was something which we never imagined could happen and I think for that to happen today with this young team players.
Q: How has the presence of Matthias changed the double scenario in the country, he has been phenomenal and has turned Indian double team of Chirag and Satwik. What according to you has he done differently than others?
A: I think it’s been great. He was there for a week before this event. So, it was not that, there was anything suddenly he was doing, but also the fact that he’s worked with the players prior to the Olympics. So, he was with them all earlier as well.
And luckily when he came on join again, I think it was almost like, a gap has been filled and it was great to have him straight away flowing. And have the ease and jumped into the team. And, also the support staff has been amazing. And it’s great because Satwik and Chirag have a great relationship.
And also, they believe in Matthias’s ability to contribute. And it’s also great because Matthias also has a great belief in the players that they want to contribute. So, it’s a very mutual thing, which actually helps us to actually produce better results. So not only is it good for the two players Satwik and Chirag, but also his presence I’m sure will create motivation, not only for the men’s doubles, but also for the other doubles events as well.
Q: Where do you see India badminton in terms of depth in coaches and what do you think that needs to be done to bring more bring more Gopi Chand to the fourth who can take Indian badminton to even greater heights.
A: As far as coaches are concerned, I think we should be able to give them the kind of respect and the recognition which is needed and also need to give them the financial stability or the motivation, which is needed. I think, there are a lot of good players who actually retired or who will be retiring in the next few years.
And I think if you’re able to convert some of them into coaches, I think the first step would be to ensure that the coaching fraternity or the coaches are respected and we give them an opportunity to work independently. Of course, I’m all for accountability, but, it’s important that we are able to motivate them and also give them the right atmosphere to keep working so that they’re able to produce themselves.
Q: How difficult is it to manage the egos of the players and strike the right balance within the national camp.
A: Well, its overtime been, when we started off, there were hardly any superstars in the team, but today you have a lot more of that happening. We have people managing them, people sponsoring them. We have people who certainly have a particular interest in players. So, there’s a lot of things which have actually changed in the sport for also the society in some sense. So, I think, there’s not, it’s not going to be easy. But this men’s team actually has shown that, top players can come together in front of you together as a team, they can keep competing, but also their competition amongst themselves, and need not be to pull each other down, but to actually make each other better as well.
So, I think this Thomas cup team is like that you can still have people competing against each other, but also, they can come together and compete together and excel together and bring results together. So, I think this has been a revelation in some sense, but yes, there are challenges which we find with multiple people getting involved and its basic system which works in the world is a coach led athlete centric system. Sometimes if you don’t really follow that and become either athlete led where he is deciding what he wants rather than what he needs, I think becomes a problem. So, we also have many issues relating to this because their resources are a lot more for top peoples today than they’ve ever been. But I think these are issues which are there so we can brush them off, but I think we need to address them in the right manner.
Q: What does Gopi Chand have that makes him such a wonderful coach as well as a talent spotter?
A: I think to, to have spent every day of my life, at least for the last 35 years, thinking about badminton makes it easier for me. Because, I am actually looking at that on that, but also the fact, is that there’s been a lot of God’s grace and support from many, which is actually in this journey, which is actually you get this.
Q: Even though there is no dearth of talent in India, we somehow are not that consistent. What do you think needs to be done differently to make India more consistent?
A: I think at the moment our struggle is because there are multiple people involved in sport, there is government, there is state associations their schools that is universities that sponsors academies individually. So, everybody is pulling the player in some different direction. The ideal way, explain show that the player by sports science, this is the glare is quoted by somebody who has the knowledge of sport. And that is what should be at the moment. There are too many people in the sport who are involved in influencing the athlete, and that becomes a challenge.
So, I think one of the biggest things which is needed is to streamline the system where various stakeholders in the support actually have been taken care off from the sport science perspective.