Badminton coach and former India player Pullela Gopichand interacts with students of Queen Mira International School in Madurai on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: R. ASHOK
Though the country has registered phenomenal growth in the spheres of education and finance in the last few decades, the same degree of growth has not been achieved in sports, said badminton coach and former Indian team player Pullela Gopichand.
He inaugurated Queen Mira Badminton Academy at Queen Mira International school here on Wednesday. Speaking to the media, he said, “It is worrying to see children struggling to run even a single round on the running tracks of the stadium. This shows their poor physical fitness.”
“In the last 20 years, India has witnessed a phenomenal rise in sports and it is evident that sports can better people’s lives. The next level of growth is possible only by combining sports and education. It is a tough task, but steps should be taken in this direction,” he said.
Tamil Nadu’s growing ecosystem for sports could be placed in the top three in the country. But, many times top players from the State could be seen dropping out of sports to pursue higher education.
“Parents’ mindset of thinking sports as secondary to education should be changed. Only when students who excel in sports believe that they can have sports as their career will the country have many champions,” Mr. Gopichand said.
In the developed countries, every parent and school, by spending money and time on sports, motivate children into sports and games, he said.
To a question on how a costly sport like badminton could be made affordable for all children, he said. “When more students play and perform better, doors will open to help the needy. Both the State and Union governments in the last 10 years have shown considerable interest in sports. Compared to our days, governments’ spending on sports has gone manifold and I wish it will improve further in the coming days,” he said.
“As the infrastructure for badminton has improved across the country, many children from rural areas now have chance to train and excel in the sport,” he added.
Published – February 05, 2025 07:31 pm IST
