Ready to gallop, but hurdles around

AFTER VISWANATHAN Anand, if there is another Indian sportsman looking good to achieve what he once promised, he is P. Gopi Chand. Presently enjoying his career-best ranking of World No 6, the five-time National badminton champion is poised to reach the summit.

After beating almost all the big names and joining the elite of the sport, Gopi knows a place at the top of the world rankings is well within reach. With a little help, things can surely get easier for this great fighter.

Come to think of it, how many sportspersons have come back from three knee-surgeries to scale the ladder of success ? Certainly, there are not many who have put aside long spells of depression and remained a source of joy for millions. However, it is ironical that Gopi enjoys a bigger fan- following in some of the other badminton-playing nations than at home.

A quick look at Gopi's career gives a fair idea of his perseverance, but not the pain endured by him. Having suffered in silence for years, Gopi is not the one to plead for assistance.

A twisted-knee during a men's doubles match in the National Games in Pune in January 1994 almost crippled Gopi's budding career. But thanks to the treatment by Delhi-based Dr. Ashok Rajgopal and encouragement from the relatives and well-wishers, Gopi returned to the court. What more, precisely a year after that injury suffered in Pune, he defeated National champion Dipankar Bhattacharjee in the final of the Petroleum inter-unit meet in New Delhi.

Carrying on, Gopi found the much needed impetus when he ended Bhattacharjee's three-year reign as National champion in Pune in January 1997. The following month in New Delhi, he reached the Indian Open final but lost to Heryanto Arbi.

Encouraged by this result, Gopi reached the pre-quarterfinals of the All England Championship in March. Significant was the fact that he scored over the 1992 Olympic champion Alan Budi Kusuma.

Later that year, in the last edition of the Sanyo World Cup, Gopi got the better of Sweden's Thomas Johansson and China's Luo Yigang but went down to former World champion Joko Suprianto.

It was Gopi's stint with German Club Langenfeld in the Bundes League, which helped him play against some of the leading players. The club also sponsored him to play in several international tournaments in Europe. Subsequently, he entered the SAS Cup in Austria as a wild card and entered the final, beating the 1996 Olympic champion Poul-Eric Hoyer-Larsen on the way.

However, in 1998, Gopi lost three months due to recurring knee- injury and dropped from his world ranking of 30. But he was back in shape to lead India's campaign in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur where he won the individual bronze apart from helping the country win a silver. Unfortunately, the performances did not count for ranking purposes.

But it was in June 1999 that Gopi took a major decision. He surprised many when he sought permission from Prakash Padukone to leave the BPL Academy in Bangalore.

Gopi threw light on the decision : ``After losing close matches in the French Open, the World Championship and the Thailand Open, I was not quite happy with the way I was playing. Not playing the end points better. Suddenly, I'd play some new shots and lose close games. Perhaps, I was playing much like Prakash Sir - toss, half-smash and drop. Plain and simple - but I realised, it was not taking me ahead since it was not my game. I knew I was not enjoying it. So when I went to Prakash Sir, he was very understanding. He permitted me to go my way.

``At the Academy, everything was ready. I didn't have to worry about my food, clothes etc. Perhaps, a bit too comfortable for me. Still, I moved to the SAI Centre (also in Bangalore) with coach Ganguly Prasad. What I needed was, to be more attacking and stay more positive. I spent more time on court than off it. That helped.

``Getting partners to practise was difficult but players like Guruprasad, B. G. Kiran, among others (both from Banks' Sports Board) really gave some real good practice,'' said Gopi.

No doubt, the best way to improve is by playing against superior opposition but then, Gopi did not have much choice in the given situation. ``Earlier, efforts were made to get some coaches from China, Indonesia, etc. but nothing worked. These nations, somehow do not encourage such moves,'' felt Gopi.

In the months that followed, Gopi went on to win the Scottish Open, the Toulouse Open and the Asian Satellite title at home. With such a streak of success behind him, Gopi was in the right frame and form to spearhead India's challenge in the Thomas Cup in February 2000 in New Delhi.

Gopi lived up to the expectations, remained unbeaten and helped India qualify for the Cup Final at Kuala Lumpur after a gap of 12 years.

If Gopi could raise his ranking from 40 to seven during the year, it was largely due to his performances in reaching the semifinals of the Malaysian Open, Asian Badminton Championship and the Ipoh Masters. In between, he received the Arjuna Award and also made his first Olympic appearance in Sydney.

The year also saw Gopi beat the eventual Olympic champion in Sydney, China's Ji Xenpeng thrice in as many meetings. In November, Gopi's victory over World number one Indonesia's Taufik Hidayut in the Ipoh Masters, sadly, went unnoticed. On the brighter side, Gopi's consistency earned him a place in the prestigious World Grand Prix Finals, where only the top 16 players get to play.

Gopi may be ready to gallop ahead but there are a few hurdles in his way. Now the time has come for a coach, who can double up as a friend and physio, to travel with Gopi for all tournaments. For that, it is essential that Gopi gets corporate support. What more, Gopi's requirements are far less than what most sponsors would anticipate.

Gopi's predicament is understandable. At 27, he is taking longer time to recover between matches. Therefore, he needs a physio who can do the needful to help him get back in shape. Further, a playing partner will enable Gopi get more time for practice at the venue of any championship. What more, he can ask the companion to focus on certain specific areas of his play and if possible, iron out the flaws in time.

In several major events like the All England - where Gopi is set to be seeded for the first time - and the World Championship, the government takes care of the coach who travels with the squad. For some others, his employers Indian Oil or the Petroleum Sports Control Board foot the bill.

But so far, no one has really thought of providing Gopi with a travelling coach-cum-physio-cum-practice-partner he so badly needs. Only if a friendly sponsor can step in and offer to take care of this ``companion,'' it can go a long way in helping Gopi achieve his goals.

If sponsorship follows those who produce results in what they are good at, then Gopi has not been so fortunate. Sadly, his achievements as well as battles with an injured-knee have not been highlighted. As a result, most people remain oblivious of the man's grit and greatness.

Gopi, who in a spontaneous gesture after winning the National championship at Jaipur, donated the winner's cheque of Rs. 40,000 to the relief fund for Gujarat earthquake victims. This, despite the fact that Gopi, too, needs money to support his overseas participation.

``What I need now is to prepare better and have a game-plan against the rivals I am likely to play. To me, playing is everything. So I see the need to work a lot harder, preferably with a coach. Now a days, I carry a video-recorder which helps me analyse the matches.

``At times it is quite depressing. You don't have anyone to talk to about your game. Still, I have learnt to accept a lot of things in life. So I am not unhappy, I don't crib. I do understand that there are things which I cannot change,'' says Gopi as he strikes a philosophical note.

A firm believer in God, Gopi thinks that he will be able to overcome all the challenges, both on and off the court, with or without help. But a helping hand, with Gopi so close to the summit, is surely welcome.

RAKESH RAO

New Delhi

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