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Happy Teachers Day: 5 lesser-known Coach-Athlete pairs that reshaped the Indian sports

Published on: September 05, 2025 16:49 IST
Pravin Amre-Ajinkya Rahane duo: Ajinkya Rahane has been one of the purest red-ball players in the country, having scored 5077 runs in Tests and 14000 FC runs. Not many people know that former Indian cricketer Pravin Amre coached Rahane. Amre has served as Rahane's personal coach and mentor and has helped him in tough times.
1/5 Image Source : PTI
Pravin Amre-Ajinkya Rahane duo: Ajinkya Rahane has been one of the purest red-ball players in the country, having scored 5077 runs in Tests and 14000 FC runs. Not many people know that former Indian cricketer Pravin Amre coached Rahane. Amre has served as Rahane's personal coach and mentor and has helped him in tough times.
2/5 Image Source : PTI
Pullela Gopichand-PV Sindhu: Indian ace shuttler PV Sindhu has been one of the best that India has ever produced. Sindhu, the double Olympic medallist, has trained under the wings of Pullela Gopichand for several years. Under Gopichand, Sindhu won the 2016 Olympic silver medal and BWF Tour Finals before the two parted ways in 2021.
3/5 Image Source : Getty
Om Nambiar-PT Usha: Legendary athlete PT Usha has been one of the best Indian athletes who transformed the sport in the country. Usha, the Asian Games champion, fell agonizingly short of a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics in the 400m hurdles. She was coached by Om Nambiar, one of the most renowned Indian coaches. Nambiar was among the first to be presented with the Dronacharya Award in 1985.
4/5 Image Source : Getty
Bishweshwar Nandi-Dipa Karmakar: Dipa Karmakar has been one of the finest gymnastics athletes. Karmakar, the 2018 World Cup gold-medallist, finished fourth at the 2016 Olympics in vault. She was coached by five-time national games champion Bishweshwar Nandi, who was her coach during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Bishweshwar was conferred with the Dronacharya Award in 2016.
5/5 Image Source : PTI
Hawa Singh-Vijender Singh: Vijender Singh is known as the first Indian boxer to have won an Olympic medal. Singh had created history by winning a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was coached by former heavyweight boxer Hawa Singh, who was a two-time Asian Games gold medallist. Hawa Singh was awarded the Dronacharya Award in 1999.