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 swimming, Mallakhamb and Kabbaddi. [2] After securing 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]