From fair game to powerhouse: Gopichand revisits Indian badminton's rise

Pullela Gopichand has been at the centre of India's rise as a badminton powerhouse. As a player first and then as a coach, he has witnessed how India transitioned into a world-beating badminton-playing nation.

Gopichand, the former All England Open winner, talking about India's emergence as a badminton powerhouse at RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru, recently said, "At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, I think we were happy collecting memorabilia, participating in opening and closing ceremonies and posing for photographs. And at Rio in 2016, 85 per cent of the team were there to perform and give their best. There was a hunger to win. And that's new India for me."

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