Tokyo Olympics: Pullela Gopichand Won't Travel With Indian Badminton Team To Tokyo, Gives Available Space To Agus Dwi Santosa

Chief National coach Pullela Gopichand, who guided India to two Olympic medals, has opted out of India's Olympic-bound badminton contingent to create space for Indonesian Agus Dwi Santosa, who trains singles shuttler B Sai Praneeth.

Chief National coach Pullela Gopichand, who guided India to two Olympic medals, has opted out of India's Olympic-bound badminton contingent to create space for Indonesian Agus Dwi Santosa, who trains singles shuttler B Sai Praneeth. Gopichand, under whose guidance Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu claimed a bronze and a silver medal at London and Rio Games respectively, opted out after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) cleared only five-member support staff, that includes three coaches and two physios. In the run-up to the Olympics, Sindhu has been training under Korean coach Tae Sang Park at the Gachibowli Indoor stadium while Santoso has been working with Praneeth.  Denmark's Mathias Boe was appointed to guide Chirag and Satwik in their maiden Games. These four shuttlers will represent India's challenge at the Games.  "With just one quota available, Gopichand decided to opt out in order to ensure Santosa could be accommodated who has been training with Sai (Praneeth) since the pandemic," Badminton Association of India (BAI) General Secretary Ajay Singhania told PTI.  It is obvious that players would prefer to have their respective coaches during the matches.