It couldn't have been possible without the family,
because for me, if I were to think
of this whole journey again, it's almost scary.
It's almost like God has put these things in place
because it was impossible otherwise to have done this.
Whether it's my mother and father,
or whether it's my wife, who's actually supported me
to be part of this ecosystem for so long.
Because for me, when I'm down,
I just have the family to actually ensure
that they put me up there and support me all through.
So we've had a great journey because we've all been
part of the journey together.
THE ACADEMY FORGING INDIA'S BADMINTON CHAMPIONS
HYDERABAD, INDIA
When I was five years old, I used to come to the academy
and I just used to play with my parents and my brother.
That's how I started.
In front, in front. Connect in front...
Nice.
After a few years, I think,
I started playing tournaments.
My first tournament when I was at school
and my mother picked me up, she said, "We're going
to play in a tournament," and I was really stressed out.
So yeah, that's how it started.
And I won that tournament.
Good job, good job, good job!
ACADEMY SPORTS GROUND
Harder, harder, harder! Only five-five.
Use the body to arch out fully.
And the power should come out of this, as much.
Harder, harder!
In 2008, we had our own academy set up.
So that time...
that was the first time Gopi, Gayatri and Vishnu,
when they were six and five,
they started going with their father.
That's how they got in, they got interested in fact.
Arch that angle up!
Panda, Gayatri, Risa, Kavia.
2009 and 2010 I would leave home
at 4 o'clock in the morning
and I wouldn't see kids still because I would come back at 8.
Then I said, "Let's take them to the academy."
So I was, it was very happy for me
because after a few hours of working at the academy,
I could see my kids and that would make me happy
and I would look forward to it.
So growing up, I always used to look up to him,
always wanted to be like him, you know?
I used to kind of copy his shots when he used to play.
Of course there is definitely pressure.
She has to live with it,
and unfortunately that's the reality.
Move from here to the center.
How come you are staying here?
Just move, and get back into the center.
Always close in the angle.
Always close in the center of the angle.
If you're not taking that...
Straight ahead, that's the fastest one.
Go up! Oh, nice, nice, nice!
For me personally, I think there is no pressure.
I think my parents have always taken care of that part.
So even whenever I'm even, you know, going for
tournaments or anything, so they always just say,
just give your one hundred percent.
It's not like they're forcing me to win.
She has handled it pretty well.
And eventually she will have to play the sport on her terms
and she will have to win or lose on her own will
and grit, and that's up to her.
From my side, I'm just happy
that she's got a good foundation
and where she goes from here is her journey.
But difference in there definitely.
At home he's like a very cool person.
He just shows so much warmth to the children also.
They just love him.
How did you study today? How did you study?
Huh? How did you study?
We do discuss, maybe ask her about what she's done.
And typically the conversation
is about a minute and a half to two
and not beyond for badminton, because I do believe that
if I have given her advice on-court, off-court,
and at home, I think it just becomes too much of advice.
So it's, maybe about max is one or two minutes.
I would ask what they've done,
but not anything beyond in terms of,
if I have to say something in-depth about the game.
Expectations from Gayatri,
frankly speaking, I don't have anything.
When she started winning like the 13, 15 and 17,
and when I was expecting something from her,
I was getting nervous and I thought as a player,
I shouldn't do that.
So that's how I stopped expecting.
And, I just want her to work hard,
but definitely put the best foot forward
and no expectations at all.
Doubtful lift. Doubtful lift.
I would say the coach himself,
Gopi sir himself, because he is someone
who is very dedicated, but at the same time,
giving a hundred percent to that academy
and giving those hours is very, very tough.
I think in that way Gopi sir is really special
because he could spend those hours leaving his family.
He was mostly on the court, mostly in the academy.
I think the fact that Indian women
typically were not looked at as a medal prospect
was one to start off with, this was the challenge.
So for Saina to win, or for the Indian girl to win,
we needed to break that barrier.
And that could have been a very difficult one,
but thanks to Saina's attitude, she was able to change that
very subtly, very quickly.
LONDON 2012
She went into London
with a week of fever prior and to be fair
she really gave her heart out and she was young.
She was running, she was like,
wouldn't give up the word, which I can use is...
unconquered spirit, which was there.
Every time she lost, I would come back.
And that really makes a lot of difference
because especially for the first one
to come out and do that, you need that attitude.
And it was great that Saina came in
because once she did it, not only did she win
and bring the confidence up for herself
and probably a few more women, but actually the men
started to also believe that we can do better.
Winning 23 international medals is not easy.
If you're not mentally tough, you know?
You have to, on-court it just comes naturally.
I don't have to work for it,
or I don't have to sit and meditate for it.
So that fighting spirit and not leaving attitude on the court
has really helped me to reach this level.
I lived the dream of standing on the podium of the Olympics
and getting a medal for the country
and being the first woman to get it
for the badminton in India.
So very, very happy and special moment for me.
Narendra Modi sir appreciating me
and telling me that I'm a daughter of India.
It gives me that proud feeling
that I could, you know, I can achieve a lot more
and I've made the country proud with my results.
And a lot of juniors look up to me for,
you know, they also want to become like me.
So all these things, you know, really give you
that kind of satisfaction feeling working,
because you give so much to the country
and you worked hard so much for the last 19 years.
And in return, if you get such special appreciation,
obviously it is a very, it's a like a dream come true.
I think it was important that we closed that medal
because, not only from us from an academy perspective,
for Indian badminton, it was huge.
Generally the sport started to look upwards
and at that point of time badminton to actually be there
and win the medal, definitely has helped all of us.
The first thing is to just hit it and hit hard
and the impact will come later so just don't bother.
This is okay, this is okay.
Yeah, of course it was okay.
We were so happy.
And that medal actually, everyone, all the Indians
are waiting for it and the academy and myself.
And that is what the motto
of the academy, to build the academy
is to get Olympic medals.
But still that I want more and more medals.
That's what I say to Gopi or the players.
One medal is not enough.
I want more and more medals.
But in 2012, when we won that medal,
it was almost like, it's like, I'm done.
I have had enough of this.
So it's almost like a conversation
which I had with my mother,
where it is like I said, "Is this enough?"
And she's being very kind-hearted.
She said, "Yes, I think you've done enough."
The next day she would get up
and say, "What are you doing here?
Go back and coach."
Hi I'm Gopi's mother. I've looked after the academy
for the past 12 years, every day and night I am here.
So I know each and every student
and each and every player also, and coaches.
We love Gopi.
Until now I managed the academy
also like a house, the whole thing,
but I learned everything for the past 30, 40 years.
I never had came out.
But academy, after going,
it's the feeling and I want to help Gopi
and that's why I tried to manage it
the last 15 years I've managed.
She is very nice. She takes good care of us.
She treats us like family. Like we are her own children.
No one should be wronged.
No eating out too much.
If we fall ill then she gets worried.
That is why she takes good care of everyone.
She is very nice. And since I've been here
for many years we have become very close.
Quite often I go to Aunty and talk like,
whenever I am here and after the session,
I get time to go and talk with her.
Like she really gives us good advice so that
like, we can improve ourselves.
So yeah. So that way I feel it's my family here.
The kids, I give them whatever they want.
If they have it broken, I will give.
They know that Aunty will give everything.
I love it. I love them all.
She is our motivator, and we all listen to her command.
And I think without Aunty the academy wouldn't have been here
and I don't think without Aunty
we will be able to work very smoothly.
I am so happy today because we started in 2004
and the hard work he's put in mentally,
physically, everything, I think that paid off.
And I think it will pay off more.
It's been a great journey because we've all been
part of the journey together.
So I just love the sport and I can continuously watch
and spend time talking about this sport forever.
And it's great that, my mother, my wife,
my kids and father, everybody can relate
to the sport and talk about it.
No!
NEXT TIME ON THE ACADEMY
Woo! Yeah!