Master of the game

Veteran badminton player keen on sharing his winning talent with youngsters

Gopi Santoshkumar, a talented badminton player and coach, will represent the UAE at the World Veterans Open badminton tournament in Melbourne to be held in October this year.

With six weeks left, he is busy getting ready to take on stalwarts in the categories of singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

This year has proved to be an extremely successful year for Santoshkumar. In the tournament held in Dubai, he was declared as the winner of UAE Open Badminton Championship 2002 in the singles category.

However, he had to be content with the runner-up position in the mixed doubles. He repeated the winning feat in the championship tournament held in India Social Centre, Abu Dhabi, by sweeping all three categories of singles, doubles and the mixed doubles titles.

He has represented the UAE for the GCC Open championships in Bahrain in 1999 and 2001 and has proved his talents by winning the doubles titles.

In 2001, he won the championship matches held in the Malayalee Samajam, Abu Dhabi, and bagged the men's singles and doubles titles and was runner-up in the mixed doubles.

In addition to badminton, he has participated in football, kabaddi, and ball badminton matches back home in Kerala.

He was selected for the state's juniors' football team. In his school days, he excelled as an athlete, winning inter-school 400 metre and 800 metre running, javelin throw and pole vault competitions.

Now, thrice weekly, Santoshkumar devotes his morning hours to jogging, skipping, shadow practice and workouts in the gym. Santoshkumar started playing badminton in his early 20s.
As a badminton player, he feels that maintaining mental balance, playing the game in a relaxed manner and concentration are vital.

Santoshkumar identifies rallying, drop lobbing and smashes as his strong points.

He acknowledges the efforts of Sri Lankan coach, Nagur Kani, who helped him build stamina and improve techniques. After his routine working hours in one of the companies based in Abu Dhabi, most of his time is spent in coaching children and adults at various sport clubs.

In the UAE badminton circles, Santoshkumar is a popular figure, unassuming and easily approachable.

He likes to share his expertise with upcoming players and believes in teaching the deserving youngsters.

He wishes to continue coaching and help as many young players as possible. As a coach, he advises his students to consume fresh vegetables, fruits and fish to build stamina.

He feels the need for setting up a sports body to encourage the game and popularise it among people of all nationalities.

During his 20-year stay in Abu Dhabi, Santoshkumar believes, he would not have been succesful without the support of friends and philanthropists.