Pullela Gopichand: Here are 10 interesting facts about India's most celebrated coach

Former No 1 player Pullela Gopichand is widely regarded as the Dronacharya of Indian badminton. Fox Star Studios in collaboration with Abundantia Entertainment is set to present the biopic on him.The film, in Hindi and Telugu, will chronicle Gopichand's exciting journey on and off the court. As he turns 44 years today here are 10 interesting facts that you might not know about him.

Former No 1 player Pullela Gopichand is widely regarded as the Dronacharya of Indian badminton. Fox Star Studios in collaboration with Abundantia Entertainment is set to present the biopic on him.The film, in Hindi and Telugu, will chronicle Gopichand's e 

He was born in 1973 at Nagandla, Prakasam district, in Andhra Pradesh to a banker and homemaker couple, Pullela Subash Chandra and Subbaravamma. (Image Courtesy Facebook Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy @PGBAGN)

10-year-old Gopichand and his mother would walk for miles and avoid public transport to save money.(Image Courtesy Facebook Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy @PGBAGN)

Under the aegis of Syed Mohammed Arif, a recipient of Dronacharya and Padma Shri Award, Gopi started his badminton career. (Image Courtesy Facebook Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy @PGBAGN)

In 1994, when he suffered a major knee injury, he concluded the toll such mishaps take on a player. But he bounced back from the injury he sustained during a doubles match. IN PIC: PV Sindhu and Pullela Gopichand. (Photo | PTI)

It was in 1996 that Gopi brought home his first big title, clinching the National Badminton Championship in 1996. (Image Courtesy Facebook Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy @PGBAGN)

In 2001, he won the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham, becoming the second Indian to clinch the trophy after Prakash Padukone. (Photo | PTI)

In 2003, 30-year-old Pullela Gopichand announced his retirement. (Image Courtesy Facebook Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy @PGBAGN)

Keen to improve the quality of badminton and offer the infrastructure the sport deserves, he opened the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in 2008. IN PIC: Pullela Gopichand and Saina Nehwal. (Photo | PTI)

His academy in Hyderabad has trained the recent crop of top players, including PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap, Sai Praneeth and Srikanth Kidambi. IN PIC: PV Sindhu and Pullela Gopichand. (Photo | PTI)

In its almost decade-long existence, the academy has foreseen the future of the country’s badminton sensations. The academy, which started with only 25 players, has grabbed over 10 hotspots in the top 50 badminton players in the world. IN PIC: PV Sindhu and Pullela Gopichand. (Photo | PTI)