Kolkata : Renowned athletes and legends shared their highs and lows in Trailblazers Conclave 3.0.
Pullela Gopichand (Badminton)
Starting with Indian Badminton icon and coach, Pullela Gopichand, stated lowest point in his career was between 1980-90 where India failed to achieve any medals.
Besides this, India weren’t allowed to participate in 1994 Commonwealth Games as they ‘didn’t meet the standards’.
India won Davis Cup in 2022, which was highest point in Gopichand’s career.
“Lowest was between the years 1980-90, badminton didn’t win a medal. And in ’94, in Canada, the Indian team wasn’t sent to the Commonwealth Games because the team didn’t meet the standards. Highest (level) of the sport was in 2022 when India won the Davis Cup,” Gopichand said.
“The problem about being on a public platform is that I can’t reveal all the truths. I will keep the honest answers for the in-rooms of BAI and SAI. Sport has grown huge; the influx has ensured the systemic changes needed. The system has to come together, the tank is filled with talent, the tap and the pipeline has to be cleaned to ensure the inflow,” Gopichand on why India isn’t yielding medals.
Sakshi Malik (Wrestling)
Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik, who has been involved in Wrestlers’ Protests in 2023 over sexual harrassment charges against Brij Bhusan stated that phase as her lowest point. While, winning Medal at Rio Olympics 2016 as highest point.
“Rio Olympics was the highest of my life. India wasn’t getting any medals, and I got the breakthrough. Lowest was when I left wrestling in 2023 when we were protesting against sexual harassment, my career was over. We slept on the road for 40 days and no hearing was done. I thought I couldn’t continue wrestling in an environment like that.” Sakshi Malik noted.
Dibyendu Barua (Chess)
Indian Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua got the title winning Chess Olympiad in 1999, making a statement, stated it as his highest point.
“My highest when I won the gold medal in the chess Olympiad in 1999, and when I got the grandmaster title.” Dibyendu Barua observed.
Vishwanathan Anand (Chess)
“I don’t know which title to pick as my highest, I like them all, 2007 was special. The lowest was in 2013,” Indian Chess legend Viswanathan Anand said. “India is at the top, but not all the players. We have 3 at the top and the oldest is 20. That means India can enjoy watching Chess for the next 20 years. The situation isn’t the same for the women players, we need to do more to get the level up. There’s so much capacity and potential to grow. There’s a lot to work for.” Anand on the future of Indian Chess.
