So we need to build good systems. So it so happens that we have to wait for individual players to come up with exceptional talent. Some heads might have been swayed by this sort of welcome home, but not Gopichand's. He couldn't wait to escape the public adulation, and return to his meticulous preparations for the World Championships. The gym where Gopichand trains indicates some of the reasons why Indian sport is generally so unfulfilled.
Facilities are poor, upkeep is shabby - funds are obviously scarce.
But living on this campus allows Gopi to dedicate himself completely to training. While other top players have been competing around the world since the All England Champs, Gopi has been locked away here in Bangalore, training relentlessly. It's an attitude that saw him recover after his knee shattered during a match six years ago, an injury that would have ended many other careers. Gopichand meditates early each morning, in preparation for a gruelling physical schedule on and off the Badminton court. His religious faith also led him to shave off his hair after winning the All England title, as a thanks offering.