Gopal Purushottam Phadke

Gopal Purushottam Phadke
Born Pune, Maharashtra, India
Died 20 October 2009
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Resting place
 Vaikunth crematorium, Pune
18°30′28″N 73°50′28″E / 18.50778°N 73.84111°E
Occupation Sports coach
Known for Kho Kho
Children Two sons
Awards Padma Shri
Dronacharya Award

Gopal Purushottam Phadke was an Indian sports coach from Pune, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.[1] He was a specialist coach of kho kho, a sports of Indian origin as well as of other sports disciplines such as swimmimg, Mallakhamb and Kabbaddi.[2] After secruing a diploma in engineering, he worked at the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), but left the company to take up sports coaching as a full time job.[1] He was reported to have provided coaching to physically handicapped children in swimming using a custom built tank constructed at his own expense and is credited with efforts in popularising the sport in other countries such as Australia.[2] He was involved with Arya Krida Dharak Mandal, an organization which promoted kho kho and other sports[3] and was a member of the advisory committees of All India Radio, Doordarshan and the selection committee of Dronacharya award.[1] He died on 20 October 2009 at his residence in Pune, succumbing to liver cirrhosis. He received the Dronacharya Award, the highest Indian award for sports coaching, in 2000,[4][5][6] the only coach from the sport of kho kho to receive the award.[2] A former vice president of the All India Association of Dronacharya Awardees,[7] Phadke was honoured by the Government of India in 2003 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Diligent Media Corporation". Diligent Media Corporation. 21 October 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "DNA". DNA. 6 February 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ "AKDM". Web India. 20 October 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Press Information Bureau". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  5. ↑ "The Hindu". The Hindu. 3 August 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Web India". Web India. 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Tribune". Tribune. 29 July 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Padma Awards". Padma Awards. 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.