Target is to go to Tokyo 2020 with biggest team: Gopichand

Buoyed by P V Sindhu's recent triumph, Indian chief national coach Pullela Gopichand Friday said the world number two Olympic silver medallist is primed to win the prestigious All England Open.

Gopichand was the last Indian to win the All England Championship, in 2001, achieving the coveted feat after 21 years of Prakash Padukone's 1980 title.

Sindhu ended 2018 on a high winning the BWF World Tour Finals in Guangzhou, after losing seven straight summit clashes.

"I think this year Sindhu has done well in all big tournaments. The World Tour Finals win has been even better. It's a great start to come in to this year," Gopichand told reporters here, citing the upcoming All England Open in March.

With this being the penultimate year before the Olympics, Gopichand's main aim is to keep the Indian shuttlers' ranking high to ensure a bigger contingent for Tokyo 2020.

"We have two major tournaments this year, the All England Open Championship and World Championships, also we have the Olympics qualifiers.

"The main target will be to ensure that we have high ranking and go to the Olympics with the biggest team."
"Other sports are doing well and badminton is among them. This year, CWG and Asian Games we have done well. We hope to do well in future."
"And also the new BWF calendar asked top players to play lot more so players became prone to injuries."
"Prannoy was recovering from an injury, for Srikanth it might sound that it has been a championship less year, but he has consistently reached quarterfinals and semifinals. He is somebody who is very good and will make a comeback."
"When I realised it was late and I was left alone at the Salt Lake Stadium. I didn't know the way to Netaji Indoor. I kept running from pillar to post, crying out aloud. But there was no one to listen to. It was kind of scary when I look back."