It's a splendid victory, says Padukone

Fakir Chand in Bangalore

Prakash Padukone, the first Indian to win the All-England Badminton Championship in 1980, on Sunday night termed Gopichand's victory at Birmingham as a splendid and well-deserved one.

"It's a great day for Gopi as well as Indian badminton. He had beaten all the top players on his way to the final and outplayed China's Chen Hong very convincingly," Padukone told rediff.com in Bangalore.

"The victory should change the Indian badminton scene and make other players more confident. A victory like this has come after a long time," he said.

"After over two decades, it is a moment of rejoice for thousands of Indian fans," Padukone affirmed.

Padukone, who coached Gopichand at his Bangalore-based BPL Padukone Badminton Academy, said the latter played with a lot of confidence and his grit and determination was there for all to see.

Asked whether luck also played a role in helping Gopichand reach the final, he said, "Of course, luck has its role to play. That's the case with any winner. Gopi has been lucky to keep his cool and outsmart his opponents at the right moment."

Padukone said that he was looking forward to talk to Gopichand and congratulate him.

"I'm waiting for him to get back to the hotel room so that I can greet him and tell him how excited we all are about his achievement," he said on Sunday night after the match.

Hyderabad-based Gopichand underwent intensive coaching for two years at the Padukone Academy. At present, he trains at the Sports Authority of India courts, also in Bangalore.