Parupalli Kashyap leaves Pullela Gopichand's academy, shifts to Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 24: At a time when the nation is in awe of Chief National Badminton Coach Pullela Gopichand after PV Sindhu bagged India's first silver medal in badminton at Rio Olympics, senior shuttler Parupalli Kashyap has left Gopichand's academy.

PV Sindhu returns home to a grand welcome in Hyderabad

The star shuttler couldn't go to Rio Olympics due to injury in his knee in March this year during German Open. The 29-year-old's dream of playing at the Olympics came crashing due to injury.

He had to undergo a surgery to repair the medial collateral ligament in his right leg and a long rehabilitation process.

As per a "The Times of India" report, the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist has now decided to shift base to Bengaluru to work with noted coach Tom John at Tom's Badminton Academy here.

"I initially thought I would come here for two months as I wanted a change in atmosphere," Kashyap told TOI on Tuesday (Aug 23).

"The Olympics was a big deal for me so when I didn't make it because of injury it was quite disturbing," added the Hyderabad shuttler.

(Coach Gopichand speaks on split with Saina Nehwal)

When asked how did Gopichand take the news, he said, "He didn't say much, but I'm sure he understands that I'm a senior player. He definitely didn't take it badly as he understood my situation."

Earlier in 2014, Saina Nehwal too had parted ways with her childhood coach Gopichand and joined Prakash Padukone Academy in Bengaluru.

Having learnt her skills and excelled under Gopichand's guidance in Hyderabad for over a decade, Saina's sudden split with her coach was one of the most talked about in the sport. Saina had said that Gopichand had very little time for her and she had to make the change.

OneIndia News