No 'instant' recognition for Gopichand

Wed, Aug 20 01:40 AM

Former All-England champion Pullela Gopichand was in for a shock on Tuesday when Sports Minister M. S. Gill failed to recognise him forcing the national coach to introduce himself. Gopichand and young shuttler Saina Nehwal, who became the first Indian to reach the Olympic Games quarter-finals at Beijing, called on Gill on Tuesday after their return from Beijing.

While the minister welcomed Saina, he asked Gopichand to introduce himself. "I was really surprised when the sports minister asked me 'Who are you?'" Gopichand told Hindustan Times.

"He could not recognise me and I had to give my introduction." Gopichand is only the second Indian after Prakash Padukone to win the All England crown in 2001.

He also won a bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. When Hindustan Times contacted Gill, he said, "It was for an instant that I couldn't recognise Gopichand, but I know his achievement.

For that matter, I know about most of the badminton players of yesteryear like Nandu Natekar. I know the sport very well too.

Am I supposed to know all the sportsperson of India, past and present? This is ridiculous. I never got a chance to meet Gopi earlier and that's the reason why I couldn't recognise him instantly but when I was told about him, I accorded him a warm welcome.

" Gill, who was all praise for Saina, also talked about boxer Akhil Kumar. "I have been calling his parents everyday.

I can understand how disappointed his parents would be by the outcome of yesterday's bout but, of course, I believe in Akhil's potential. I am in touch with the Indian contingent in Beijing too," Gill said.

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