Pullela Gopi Chand with the All England Trophy: Photo Courtesy Alan Spink. Used with permission

Pullela Gopi Chand made Indian Badminton and Global Sports history by winning the All England Badminton Championships on Sunday March 11th, 2001. 21 years after Prakash Padukone, another Indian has reached the summit at badminton's premier event. To beat the reigning Olympic Gold Medallist and then the World No. 1, in back to back matches, which also just happen to be the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final of the biggest Badminton Championship in the world AND to go on to win the Final too, is the stuff that movie scripts are made off. Only this is real life and Gopi has done it.

Pullela Gopi Chand is the brightest star to emerge on the Indian badminton scene after Prakash Padukone. Young, prodigiously talented, totally focussed and blessed with good looks and charm, Gopi Chand is the "Total Package". The perfect role model and a wonderful brand ambassador prospect for any FMCG product. 
Career Highlights
2001
2000
1999
1998


Year  Event Location Performance Highlights
2001 All England England Champion Beat Chen Hong of China, 15-12 15-6, in Final to win after beating World No.1, Peter Gade Christiansen, in the Semi's and reigning Olympic Gold Medallist, Ji Xinpeng, in the Quarters! Gopi is the first Indian to win the All England in 21 years.

2000 Olympic Games Sydney Pre-Quarter Finalist Lost to Hendrawan in the Pre-Quarter Finals after beating Vladislav Druzchenko of the Ukraine in the First Round  

2000     World No.10 Ranking Broke into the World Top 10 for the first time in his career, the first Indian after Prakash Padukone to achieve this distinction.

2000     Arjuna Award Received the Arjuna Award, India's highest recognition of sportingexcellence, from the President of India.

2000 Thomas Cup Kuala Lumpur Finalists Captained India to the finals of Badminton's premier team event. India'sfirst appearance in the Finals for 12 years.

2000 Malaysian Open Kuala Lumpur Semi Finalist Finished in the top 4 of one of the strongest events in World Badminton

2000 BPL All India Bangalore Champion Won this event for a record 6th time!

2000 National Championships New Delhi Champion Crowned National Champion for the 4th consecutive year. Has remainedunbeaten in India for 4 years running now.

1999 Asian Satellite New Delhi Champion  

1999 Toulouse Open Toulouse Champion First ever Indian to win this event.

1999 Scottish Open Edinburgh Champion First ever Indian to win this event.

1999 German Grand Prix Frankfurt Runner-Up  

1999 BPL All India Bangalore Champion Won this event for the 5th time.

1999 National Games Imphal 2 Golds
1 Silver		  

1999 National Championships New Delhi Champion 3rd time National Champion

1998 Austrian Open Salzburg Runner-Up  

1998 Commonwealth Games Kuala Lumpur Individual Bronze
Team Silver		 A strong performance marked his appearance as a World class competitor.

1998 BPL All India Bangalore Champion Won for the 4th time.

1998 National Championships New Delhi Champion Successfully defended his National Crown