Double for Pullela Gayatri at PNB Metlife All India sub junior ranking badminton tournament

NEW DELHI: Pullela Gayatri has badminton in her genes. Daughter of chief national coach and former All-England badminton champion Pullela Gopichand and former India champ PVV Lakshmi, Gayatri is a 'chip off the old block' in every sense. 

Just 12 years of age, the shy and demure Gayatri is already leading the way in the Under-13 girls category. She won the U-13 national doubles title last year and is the No. 1 seed in her age-group in both singles and doubles and won both U-13 singles as well as the U-15 doubles categories of PNB Metlife All India sub junior ranking badminton tournament.

A young girl of few words, Gayatri has been training at her father's academy in Hyderabad since the age of six. Her father Gopichand believes in pushing the boundaries. The young shuttler, who attends Glendales school in Hyderabad, begins her day before 4 in the morning. 

Gopi believes that testing her skills against seniors will hold her in good stead for the future. She took part in a senior ranking event in Bangalore a couple of months back on her father's suggestion.