India aim to end 28-year-old medal drought in badminton

By
AFP
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India aim to end 28-year-old medal drought in badminton
HYDERABAD: A lot has happened in the run up to the Asian Games in the Indian badminton fraternity. Saina Nehwal, for long Indian badminton's golden girl, shifted base from P Gopichand's academy in Hyderabad to Prakash Padukone's academy in Bangalore to train under former player Vimal Kumar.

Having failed to win a medal at the World Championships, Gopi's golden girl Saina landed in Vimal's camp, hours before the chief coach arrived at his academy in Hyderabad along with PV Sindhu, who now has two bronze medals at the World Championships.

Unlike last time when Saina left Gopi in 2011, there was no gloom in the camp. The 2001 All England Champ looked relaxed while presenting PV Sindhu to the media. In the ensuing days, Gopi, who refused to delve further into the issue, concentrated on the team he would take to the Asian Games, while Vimal too worked hard with Saina.