Aparna Popat (born 18 January 1978) is a former Indian badminton player. She was India's national champion for a record equaling nine times when she won all the senior national championships between 1997 and 2006.[2]
Aparna Popat was born on 18 January 1978 in Mumbai, Maharashtra into a Gujarati family of Lalji Popat and Heena Popat. She studied at J. B. Petit High School in Mumbai and attended a pre-university course at Mount Carmel College in Bangalore. Aparna also holds a bachelor's degree in Commerce from the Mumbai University.
Training backgroundedit
Aparna started playing badminton in 1986 in Mumbai. As an 8-year-old, when she approached Anil Pradhan for coaching, he saw a spark in the girl and told her parents "Give me this girl and I will put her on the map of Indian badminton". Being a national champion himself, he helped her develop skills required to face the many challenges of the game.[3]
In 1994, she shifted to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore to further expand her capabilities. Training under the legendary Prakash Padukone, a former All-England champion, she built up her fitness and learned techniques to be more competitive at the international level.
Yearning to expand her learning, in 2002 she shifted to the Sports Authority of India training centre at Kengeri, Bangalore where she learnt the nuances of the game under coach Gangula Prasad.[4]
Careeredit
Aparna captured her first Senior National title at Hyderabad in 1997. She went on to win the Senior National title till 2006, thereby equaling the Prakash Padukone's record of winning nine consecutive national singles titles. She won her last of the nine Senior Nationals titles at the age of 27 after defeating the 15-year-old Saina Nehwal at Bangalore in January 2006.[5]
The highlights of her achievements at the international level are participation in 2 Olympic Games, 1 Asian Games, a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in 1996 and 4 medals in 3 Commonwealth Games appearances. She reached career-high world ranking of 16.[1]
1989: Won the national title (under-12) title at Bangalore. This was the 1st tournament she played at the national level.
1990: Finished runner up in the Nationals in the Sub-Junior girls category (under-15). This was the only year that she did not win the national title in her age group.
1991: Won the National Sub-Junior girls title (under-15).
1992: Retained the National Sub Junior Girls title (under-15) and was finalist in the Junior girls (under-18) category. Also, got a chance to represent India at the World Junior Championships held at Jakarta. This was her maiden international tournament.
1993: Won the Junior National title (under-18) at Pune.
1994: Retained the Junior National title (under-18). Represented India at the World Junior Championships held at Kuala Lumpur. This year she also made her foray into the senior category at the international level being part of the Indian squad for the Uber Cup at Prague.
1995: Retained the Junior National title (under-18). Finalist at the Senior Nationals.
1996: Won bronze medal at Prince Asian Junior Championships at Hong Kong. Later that year, she won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships at Silkeborg, Denmark. This was India's first ever medal at this event. She also retained the Junior National title (under-19) and was finalist at the Senior Nationals held at Pune. Represented India in the Uber Cup.
1997: After finishing runners-up in the previous two years, she won her maiden Senior National title at Hyderabad defeating Manjusha Kanwar in straight games.
1998: This was one of her most fruitful years as a player. Apart retaining the Senior National title, she won an individual silver medal and team bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games held at Kuala Lumpur. She participated in the Asian Games at Bangkok and the Uber Cup. She also won a gold medal at the Asian Satellite Tournament.
1999: Riding on the good form of the previous year, she reached the semi-finals of the Swedish Open and finished runner-up at the French Open. Retained her Senior National title in the Women's singles and finished runner-up in the Women's Doubles category. Won a gold medal at the Asian Satellite Tournament.
2000: She represented the country at the Sydney Olympic Games 2000 as India's sole woman's badminton representative. Represented India in the Uber Cup. Retained the Senior National title.
2001: Retained the Senior National title. Won a gold medal at the Asian Satellite Tournament.
2002: She was the lone Indian medalist at the Commonwealth Games held at Manchester, UK winning a bronze medal in the Women's singles. Retained the Senior National title. Represented India in the Uber Cup.
2003: Retained the Senior national title. Won a gold medal at the Asian Satellite Tournament.
2004: Participated in her second Olympic Games held at Athens, Greece. She reached the pre-quarter final losing to the eventual silver medalist, Mia Audina in 3 games. At this point in time she was the only Indian woman badminton player to have represented India in 2 Olympics. Retained the Senior National title. Represented India in the Uber Cup.
2005: Retained the Senior National title. However, this year she developed a pain in her playing wrist.
2006: By this time, the injury was chronic. Yet managed to play the Senior Nationals and win her record 9th consecutive title. Thereafter, represented India in the Uber Cup at Jaipur. She played her 3rd Commonwealth Games at Melbourne, Australia which was the last international tournament she participated in. She reached the quarter-finals in the Women's singles and won a bronze medal in the team championships. The wrist injury forced her to retire from the game. She retired at the top of the game being the No.1 player in the country.
After 17 years of professional badminton, Popat retired from the game in 2006 after suffering a wrist injury that remained undiagnosed. She remained undefeated at the national championships. Post-retirement, Popat was employed with the Indian Oil Corporation in Mumbai until 2015.
Popat received the Arjuna Award in 2005, one of the highest sporting honors awarded by the Government of India.
She was one of seventeen participants from around the world—and the lone Indian—to be selected for the Global Sports Mentoring Programme, an initiative promoted by then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and ESPN. This prestigious programme was aimed at empowering women and girls through sport.
Referencesedit
^ ab. Tata Padukone Academy. Archived from the original on 21 May 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
^"Mumbai Masters – Aparna Popat". Badminton India. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
^. Studyrays. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
^"Aparna Popat to train with Ganguly Prasad". The Times of India. 19 August 2001. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
^"No stopping Aparna". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
^. ibnlive. 28 July 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
aparna, popat, born, january, 1978, former, indian, badminton, player, india, national, champion, record, equaling, nine, times, when, senior, national, championships, between, 1997, 2006, popat, receiving, arjuna, award, from, abdul, kalampersonal, informatio. Aparna Popat born 18 January 1978 is a former Indian badminton player She was India s national champion for a record equaling nine times when she won all the senior national championships between 1997 and 2006 2 Aparna PopatPopat receiving the Arjuna Award from A P J Abdul KalamPersonal informationBirth nameAparna Lalji PopatCountryIndiaBorn 1978 01 18 18 January 1978 age 46 Mumbai Maharashtra IndiaHeight1 63 m 5 ft 4 in Years active1989 2006HandednessRightWomen s singlesHighest ranking16 1997 1 Medal record Women s badminton Representing India Commonwealth Games 1998 Kuala Lumpur Women s singles 1998 Kuala lumpur Women s team 2002 Manchester Women s singles 2006 Melbourne Mixed team World Junior Championships 1996 Silkeborg Girls singlesBWF profile Contents 1 Early life 2 Training background 3 Career 4 Achievements 4 1 Commonwealth Games 4 2 World Junior Championships 4 3 IBF International 5 Retirement 6 Coaching 7 Awards 8 References 9 External linksEarly life editAparna Popat was born on 18 January 1978 in Mumbai Maharashtra into a Gujarati family of Lalji Popat and Heena Popat She studied at J B Petit High School in Mumbai and attended a pre university course at Mount Carmel College in Bangalore Aparna also holds a bachelor s degree in Commerce from the Mumbai University Training background editAparna started playing badminton in 1986 in Mumbai As an 8 year old when she approached Anil Pradhan for coaching he saw a spark in the girl and told her parents Give me this girl and I will put her on the map of Indian badminton Being a national champion himself he helped her develop skills required to face the many challenges of the game 3 In 1994 she shifted to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore to further expand her capabilities Training under the legendary Prakash Padukone a former All England champion she built up her fitness and learned techniques to be more competitive at the international level Yearning to expand her learning in 2002 she shifted to the Sports Authority of India training centre at Kengeri Bangalore where she learnt the nuances of the game under coach Gangula Prasad 4 Career editAparna captured her first Senior National title at Hyderabad in 1997 She went on to win the Senior National title till 2006 thereby equaling the Prakash Padukone s record of winning nine consecutive national singles titles She won her last of the nine Senior Nationals titles at the age of 27 after defeating the 15 year old Saina Nehwal at Bangalore in January 2006 5 The highlights of her achievements at the international level are participation in 2 Olympic Games 1 Asian Games a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in 1996 and 4 medals in 3 Commonwealth Games appearances She reached career high world ranking of 16 1 1989 Won the national title under 12 title at Bangalore This was the 1st tournament she played at the national level 1990 Finished runner up in the Nationals in the Sub Junior girls category under 15 This was the only year that she did not win the national title in her age group 1991 Won the National Sub Junior girls title under 15 1992 Retained the National Sub Junior Girls title under 15 and was finalist in the Junior girls under 18 category Also got a chance to represent India at the World Junior Championships held at Jakarta This was her maiden international tournament 1993 Won the Junior National title under 18 at Pune 1994 Retained the Junior National title under 18 Represented India at the World Junior Championships held at Kuala Lumpur This year she also made her foray into the senior category at the international level being part of the Indian squad for the Uber Cup at Prague 1995 Retained the Junior National title under 18 Finalist at the Senior Nationals 1996 Won bronze medal at Prince Asian Junior Championships at Hong Kong Later that year she won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships at Silkeborg Denmark This was India s first ever medal at this event She also retained the Junior National title under 19 and was finalist at the Senior Nationals held at Pune Represented India in the Uber Cup 1997 After finishing runners up in the previous two years she won her maiden Senior National title at Hyderabad defeating Manjusha Kanwar in straight games 1998 This was one of her most fruitful years as a player Apart retaining the Senior National title she won an individual silver medal and team bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games held at Kuala Lumpur She participated in the Asian Games at Bangkok and the Uber Cup She also won a gold medal at the Asian Satellite Tournament 1999 Riding on the good form of the previous year she reached the semi finals of the Swedish Open and finished runner up at the French Open Retained her Senior National title in the Women s singles and finished runner up in the Women s Doubles category Won a gold medal at the Asian Satellite Tournament 2000 She represented the country at the Sydney Olympic Games 2000 as India s sole woman s badminton representative Represented India in the Uber Cup Retained the Senior National title 2001 Retained the Senior National title Won a gold medal at the Asian Satellite Tournament 2002 She was the lone Indian medalist at the Commonwealth Games held at Manchester UK winning a bronze medal in the Women s singles Retained the Senior National title Represented India in the Uber Cup 2003 Retained the Senior national title Won a gold medal at the Asian Satellite Tournament 2004 Participated in her second Olympic Games held at Athens Greece She reached the pre quarter final losing to the eventual silver medalist Mia Audina in 3 games At this point in time she was the only Indian woman badminton player to have represented India in 2 Olympics Retained the Senior National title Represented India in the Uber Cup 2005 Retained the Senior National title However this year she developed a pain in her playing wrist 2006 By this time the injury was chronic Yet managed to play the Senior Nationals and win her record 9th consecutive title Thereafter represented India in the Uber Cup at Jaipur She played her 3rd Commonwealth Games at Melbourne Australia which was the last international tournament she participated in She reached the quarter finals in the Women s singles and won a bronze medal in the team championships The wrist injury forced her to retire from the game She retired at the top of the game being the No 1 player in the country Achievements editCommonwealth Games edit Women s singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1998 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium Kuala Lumpur Malaysia nbsp Kelly Morgan 10 13 5 11 nbsp Silver 2002 Bolton Arena Manchester England nbsp Tracey Hallam 3 7 3 7 1 7 nbsp Bronze World Junior Championships edit Girls singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1996 Silkeborg Hallerne Silkeborg Denmark nbsp Yu Hua 7 11 3 11 nbsp Silver IBF International edit Women s singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1998 Sri Lanka International nbsp K Neelima Chowdary 1 11 13 12 11 3 nbsp Winner 1998 French International nbsp Katja Michalowsky 11 8 11 4 nbsp Winner 1998 India International nbsp K Neelima Chowdary 6 11 11 6 11 8 nbsp Winner 1999 French International nbsp Zhou Mi 0 11 2 11 nbsp Runner up 2001 India International nbsp B R Meenakshi 11 5 11 4 nbsp Winner 2002 India Satellite nbsp Salakjit Ponsana 7 11 11 8 5 11 nbsp Runner up 2003 India Satellite nbsp Salakjit Ponsana 11 4 10 13 11 4 nbsp Winner 2005 India Satellite nbsp Saina Nehwal 8 11 6 11 nbsp Runner upRetirement editAfter 17 years of professional badminton Popat retired from the game in 2006 after suffering a wrist injury that remained undiagnosed She remained undefeated at the national championships Post retirement Popat was employed with the Indian Oil Corporation in Mumbai until 2015 Coaching editAparna Popat took up the coaching role for the Mumbai Masters in the first edition of the Indian Badminton League 6 Awards editPopat received the Arjuna Award in 2005 one of the highest sporting honors awarded by the Government of India She was one of seventeen participants from around the world and the lone Indian to be selected for the Global Sports Mentoring Programme an initiative promoted by then U S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and ESPN This prestigious programme was aimed at empowering women and girls through sport References edit a b Previous stars Aparna Popat Tata Padukone Academy Archived from the original on 21 May 2007 Retrieved 14 August 2013 Mumbai Masters Aparna Popat Badminton India Archived from the original on 14 August 2013 Retrieved 14 August 2013 Aparna Popat s Profile Studyrays Archived from the original on 31 July 2012 Retrieved 14 August 2013 Aparna Popat to train with Ganguly Prasad The Times of India 19 August 2001 Archived from the original on 14 August 2013 Retrieved 14 August 2013 No stopping Aparna The Hindu Retrieved 10 September 2015 IBL will benefit Indian players Aparna Popat ibnlive 28 July 2013 Archived from the original on 21 August 2013 Retrieved 14 August 2013 External links editAparna Popat at BWF tournamentsoftware com nbsp Aparna Popat at BWFbadminton com nbsp Aparna Popat at Olympedia nbsp Aparna Popat at the Commonwealth Games Federation archived nbsp Aparna Popat at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games archived nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aparna Popat amp oldid 1161117463, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
