Gopichand joins the big league

Dave Thompson

Few would have predicted a week ago that Pulella Gopichand would be the man to win what is probably badminton's hottest ever singles tournament.

All 16 of the world's top ranked players contested the All England championship, including the three medal winners from the Sydney Olympics and current number one Peter Gade of Denmark.

No hiding place - but it was the quiet, thoughtful 27-year-old from Andhra Pradesh, who is based in Bangalore, who lifted the trophy on Sunday after beating China's Chen Hong 15-12, 15-6 in the final.

It was the first Indian victory in the men's singles tournament since Prakash Padukone, now Gopichand's national coach, won the title in 1980.

Gopichand, a typical Asian mixture of power and touch, played consistently at the top of his game, disposing of both Gade and Olympic champion Ji Xinpeng of China along the way.

Beating big names is nothing new for the Indian. Previous victims over the years have included the two previous Olympic champions Allan Budi Kusuma of Indonesia and Denmark's Poul Erik Hoyer Larsen.

But such victories in the big events have tended to be one-offs. Putting together five or six wins in a row to clinch a major tournament like the All England is a big breakthrough.

A ready winner of fairly minor fare such as the Scottish and Toulouse titles, but typically a last 16 player and no more in the big ones - that has been the Indian's profile to date.

CHILDHOOD AMBITION

Gopichand, thrilled to fulfill a childhood ambition, admitted: "I have always had the game but I have had a few weaknesses which people have exploited.

"I have patched them up a bit now and I feel more confident as a player."

Acid tests await. Having arrived, can Gopichand stay at or near the top of the sport?

The World Grand Prix finals in Brunei loom at the end of the month followed by the World championships in Seville in June.

Gopichand, his defensive game improved after special attention, could be joining the movers and shakers, albeit at a relatively late age.

Sunday's loser Chen can look back with satisfaction on an event in which compatriots Ji and Xia Xuanze, the defending champion, both disappointed.

But generally, China had a good championships once more.

The women's singles title went to Olympic champion Gong Zhichao who defended her All England crown with a comfortable 11-7, 11-3 success over compatriot Zhou Mi.

Then Gao Ling teamed up with Huang Sui to win the women's doubles after earlier lifting the mixed doubles title with Zhang Jun.

The mixed doubles victory spelt agony for the top seeded Danish pair of Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen who failed to convert two match points and lost 13-15, 15-12, 17-14.

At the Sydney Olympics last September the Danes also had two match points in the bronze medal game but missed out, handing the medal to Britain's Simon Archer and Jo Goode.

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