It was a pride moment for all the Indians, when P V Sindhu raised towards the final in Badminton at Rio Olympics. This is because Sindhu assured India a medal not less than a Silver. When she won the first match in the finals, the expectations flew high with wings. Unfortunately she was not able to keep the pace in the second and third match and has to settle for a silver medal. India is grateful for whatever she was able to clinch for the country. We are proud to have Sindhu as our fellow citizen.

“I am on cloud nine,” said Sindhu. “The aim was to get a medal after I reached the final and I hoped well enough to win the gold. But never mind, I have got the silver. We both played well, she was amazing,” she said.

“I am really proud of the way I fought. I didn’t expect that I’d make the final. After that, I worked really hard. The final was anyone’s game. But she won a couple of points from there and remained ahead right until the end,” she said.

“We have many players coming up, in men’s singles, K Srikanth lost only to Lin Dan. I am sure more players will come up in the country,” she said.

Sindhu dedicated her silver to her coach and her parents. "This is for them, they have supported me all along," she said.

Why Sindhu’s coach Gopi chand not gave the due to his coach

Sindhu was magnanimous in dedicating her medal to her coach. The media has also gone ga ga over the dedication. Why? Here rise a question, while Gopichand won the All England championship he has not dedicated his victory to his guru, Palanki Uday Bhaskar Babu and the media has also blacked out in mentioning Gopichand’s coach. Is there any hidden caste colour in it? Don’t know. Has to be found out!

Who is Palanki Uday Bhaskar Babu

Palanki Uday Bhaskar Babu, has joined Sports Authority of India as a badminton coach in 1987, first in Cuttack and then in Vijayawada. This  gentleman has succumbed to the fact that he is destined to a ‘secondary' role in the art of coaching as the bigger names such as S. M. Arif earlier and after, Pullela Gopi Chand donned the role of national coaches.

Job satisfaction important than recognition

Nobody can take the credit away from Bhaskar for slogging on without looking for any recognition. He feels that he has an assigned role of grooming young talent - be it at the SAI centre in Vijayawada or in the national camps. He is the person who has first spotted the elegant Chetan Anand, now World No. 15 and three-time national champion. “When he was 10, he came to my Siddartha School centre and I could easily spot the spark of genius in his game. He is one of those naturals,” the SAI coach recalls.

Dedication and Passionate

“I am passionate because of the intense desire to see the players develop the skills, which I could not as a player, being mostly a semi-finalist at the State-level,” says the untiring coach. “What I regret the most is that I missed the childhood of my two sons ,” he remarks.

No regrets for sidelining

“Initially, there were moments when I felt that I was not getting my due despite being the national coach for many international events. I have crossed that mental barrier. I get what I deserve and there is no point in cribbing about what is not in your hands,” says Bhaskar Babu.

“I take immense pride that I am associated with the 2010 Commonwealth Games preparations even as I chase my ultimate dream to see an Indian shuttler win an Olympic medal.”

“He is the lucky mascot. I am happy to work with him,” says Saina Nehwal about Bhaskar Babu. The untiring coach has been involved in plotting the downfall of the best of the opponents lined up against Saina when she hogged the limelight.

About ace shuttler Saina Nehwal

“To be honest, Saina has stepped into the big league and doesn't need to be coaxed to train rigorously. She belongs to a different class. But, yes I used to take care of the training schedule and most importantly do an exhaustive study of the games of the players whom she will play,” explained Bhaskar Babu.

“It definitely means studying the video footage of the big guns. We sit together and analyze them. She is a dedicated listener. Even while playing, during breaks, she just listens to what we (coaches) say and never utters a word. But, I can tell you she just goes out there and implements what we tell her,” he adds.

30 years of dedicated service

P. Udaya Bhaskar Babu, retired after nearly a three-decade stint which began when the sport was not the same as it is now.

Real unsung heroes

Coaches are the real unsung heroes behind the victory in sports and games. It is they who understand the strategies and implement that for their disciples. But unfortunately these dedicated and determined heroes are rarely admired or always behind the screen.

By Premji