View source for Gopichand Badminton Academy

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}

{{Infobox organization
| name                = Gopichand Badminton Academy
| named_after         = [[Pullela Gopichand]]
| location            = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], [[India]]
| formation           = {{Start date and age|2008}}
| type                = [[Badminton]] [[sports academy|academy]]
| founder             = [[Pullela Gopichand]]
| website             = 
| region              = [[India]]
}}

''' Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy''' (PGBA) is a [[badminton]] training facility in [[Hyderabad, Telangana]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web 
| title = How Indian badminton rocketed on the Gopichand shuttle|work=The Hindu | url = http://www.thehindu.com/thread/sports/article9011704.ece| accessdate = 2016-08-23 |date=20 August 2016| first = Deepika | last = Amirapu  }}</ref> Founded in 2008 by the [[2001 All England Open Badminton Championships|2001 All England Open Badminton Champion]], [[Pullela Gopichand]], the facility trains several badminton players such as [[Saina Nehwal]], [[P. V. Sindhu]], [[Srikanth Kidambi]], [[Parupalli Kashyap]], [[H.S. Prannoy]], [[Sai Praneeth]], [[Sameer Verma]] and many others.<ref name="saidutt">{{cite news|last=Dua|first=Aarti|title=Star maker|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100801/jsp/graphiti/story_12750158.jsp|accessdate=15 October 2010|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=1 August 2010}}</ref>

== History ==
By the time he won the [[All England Open Badminton Championships]] in 2001, [[Pullela Gopichand]] was already 27 years old and was struggling with a few injuries. With not many playing years left, Gopichand decided to bring a world-class training facility for the next generation. With that intention, Gopichand decided to form a badminton academy. Soon after his well-recognized win in England, the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] under the leadership of [[Nara Chandrababu Naidu]] awarded him {{convert|5|acre}} of land in 2003.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news|last=Anand|first=Geeta|title=Badminton Academy Trains Saina but Still Struggles|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703726404575533462260048940|accessdate=15 October 2010|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=6 October 2010}}</ref> The land in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]'s [[Gachibowli]] area was offered as a lease at a very nominal rate for 45 years.<ref name="yonex">{{cite news|last=M|first=Chhaya|title=Yonex to fund Gopi's academy|url=http://inhome.rediff.com/sports/2004/may/28gopi.htm|accessdate=15 October 2010|newspaper=[[Rediff.com]]|date=28 May 2004}}</ref> At the same time, he started talks with [[Yonex]] for sponsorship and also wanted to involve a foreign coach.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mukhopadhyay|first=Atreyo|title=Gopichand to quit next year|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1031116/asp/sports/story_2577346.asp|accessdate=15 October 2010|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]|date=16 November 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Badminton academy at Hyderabad soon |url=http://www.indiaexpress.com/news/sports/20030422-0.html |access-date=15 October 2010 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |date=22 April 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724201109/http://www.indiaexpress.com/news/sports/20030422-0.html |archive-date=24 July 2011 }}</ref>

In the following year, Gopichand formulated his plans for the academy and approached [[Nimmagadda Prasad]], a distant relative and a serial entrepreneur, to raise money for this venture. At that time, Prasad sold Matrix Laboratories, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, to an American pharma company, [[Mylan Inc.]]. Since Prasad was convinced about Gopichand's idea, he immediately offered [[United States dollar|US$]]500,000 and his assistance in raising an additional amount of US$2 million. With [[cricket]] being a more popular sport, Gopichand and Prasad found it hard to raise additional money from other sources. Over time, Prasad increased his contribution to US$1.25 million. Gopichand's wife and former [[Olympic Games|Olympian]], P. V. V. Lakshmi, was very supportive of him and even contributed to the effort of securing monetary support.<ref name="ppba">{{cite news|last=A.|first=Joseph Antony|title=Master of multi-tasking|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004040800680400.htm&date=2004/04/08/&prd=mp&|accessdate=15 October 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|date=8 April 2004}}</ref> Despite other donations, Gopichand could only gather US$1.75 million. It was then he decided to mortgage his family home and raise the remaining money for the already delayed project. In 2008, the facility was eventually completed at the cost of US$2.5 million.<ref name="WSJ"/>

Immediately after the construction, the [[Government of India]] sent the [[India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] team to train at this facility. The government increased the daily rate they pay per player to US$20 for this special Games camp. This was a big jump from the US$5 daily fee per player that the government had previously paid for other training camps.<ref name="WSJ"/>

In 2008, Gopichand appealed to [[Bollywood]], the [[Hindi language|Hindi]] [[Cinema of India|cinema industry]] to become badminton's brand ambassador. He felt that by having a popular cinema icon supporting the sport will help popularize it.<ref>{{cite news|title='Badminton needs Bollywood brand ambassadors' |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Badminton-needs-Bollywood-brand-ambassadors/369011/ |access-date=15 October 2010 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |date=3 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204091231/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Badminton-needs-Bollywood-brand-ambassadors/369011/ |archive-date=4 December 2008 }}</ref>

Despite [[Saina Nehwal]]'s success in international tournaments, Gopichand found it hard to run the Academy. To run it at an optimal level, it requires US$300,000 a year. As of 2010, he was making do with US$100,000 to pay the training cost for 60 players and was holding off hiring more coaches.<ref name="WSJ"/>

== Facilities ==
After construction, the US$2.5 million badminton training academy contains eight courts, a swimming pool, weight training room, cafeteria and rooms to sleep.<ref name="WSJ"/> The construction of this facility was modeled after [[Bangalore]]'s Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, which is headed by [[Prakash Padukone]]. The architectural design was completed by Hyderabad-based Arvee Consultants. The wooden flooring of the courts were made as per international standards.<ref name="ppba"/> In addition, physiotherapy, food and diet programs are also available.<ref name="taufik">{{cite news|title=Gopichand lives a dream through academy |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/007200903281551.htm |access-date=15 October 2010 |newspaper=The Hindu |date=29 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108054035/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/007200903281551.htm |archive-date=8 November 2012 }}</ref> The second such facility is opened at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida. They have recently started their unit in Salem, Tamil Nadu.<ref name="pgbaslm.com">{{cite news|title=Badminton academy opened in Salem|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/badminton-academy-opened-in-salem/article7385131.ece|accessdate=18 August 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|date=4 July 2016}}</ref> There are already academies at the Gwalior, Vadodara and Hyderabad.<ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/badminton/Gopichand-to-set-up-a-Badminton-Academy-in-Greater-Noida/articleshow/53301777.cms</ref>

== Tournament center ==
The Academy has also served as a venue for major sporting events. The 2009 Indian Open was held here while the [[2009 BWF World Championships]] used it as a training venue.<ref name="taufik"/><ref>{{cite news|title=WBC begins amid high security, all eyes on Saina|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/wbc-begins-amid-high-security-all-eyes-on-saina/98919-5.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812080922/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/wbc-begins-amid-high-security-all-eyes-on-saina/98919-5.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2009|accessdate=15 October 2010|newspaper=[[CNN-IBN]]|date=10 August 2009}}</ref>

== Notable players ==
* [[Saina Nehwal]] who was ranked 1 in the women's singles category, Olympic Bronze Medalist.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 World Rankings|url=http://www.bwfbadminton.org/page.aspx?id=15370}}</ref>
* [[P. V. Sindhu]], who is ranked 6 currently in women's singles category, was ranked 2 and only Indian female Olympic Silver Medalist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bwfbadminton.org/page.aspx?id=14955|title=BWF World Ranking|work=[[Badminton World Federation]]|accessdate=15 October 2010}}</ref>
* [[Srikanth Kidambi]], who was ranked 1 in the men's singles category.<ref>http://www.bwfbadminton.org/page.aspx?id=14955</ref>
* [[Parupalli Kashyap]], who is formerly ranked 6 in the men's singles category.<ref name="kashyap_guru">{{cite web|title=BWF World Ranking|url=http://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/ranking/category.aspx?id=1726&category=472&p=2|work=[[Badminton World Federation]]|accessdate=15 October 2010}}</ref>
* [[Prannoy Kumar]], who was ranked 8 in the men's singles category.
* [[Sameer Verma]], who was ranked 11 in men's singles category.
* [[B. Sai Praneeth]], who is ranked 11 in men's singles category.
* [[N. Sikki Reddy]], who is ranked 17 & 23 in mixed & women's doubles category (Best rank 13 in XD).
* [[Satwiksairaj Rankireddy]], who is ranked 10 in men's doubles category (Best rank 7).
* [[Pranaav Jerry Chopra]], who is ranked 28 in mixed doubles category (Best rank 13).
* [[Gadde Ruthvika Shivani]]
* [[Rituparna Das]]
* [[Ramchandran Shlok]]
* [[Gurusai Datt]],<ref name="saidutt"/> who was ranked 19 in the men's singles category.<ref name="kashyap_guru"/>
* [[Arundhati Pantawane]], who was ranked 42 in women's singles category (Currently coach at PGBA).
* [[Arun Vishnu]], who was ranked 44 in mixed doubles category (Junior national coach & coaching doubles players at PGBA ).

== Noteworthy medals achieved by the students  ==
* 2 Olympic medals (Silver & Bronze), 4 World Championship medals (1 Gold, 3 Silver & 4 Bronze).
* Around 15 Super series & Super series premier titles, & many GPG, GP, IC & IS medals.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Badminton in India}}

{{coord missing|Telangana}}

[[Category:Badminton in India]]
[[Category:Sport schools in India]]
[[Category:Sport in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar]]