Syed Mohammed Arif is the renowned Indian Badminton player and coach Arif Saahab who is the recipient of Dronacharya Award and Padma Shri Award by the Government of India a crowning glory in the twilight of his career. And indeed he is Dronacharya who has produced the great Pullela Gopichand and Saina Nehwal. He has produced many national champions in different age groups.
Early life of S. M. Arif
S. M. Arif belongs to Hyderabad State that now is a part of now Andhra Pradesh. He completed his graduation i.e. received his B.Sc. from University of Hyderabad. An avid player of cricket at School he even led Anwar ul Uloom College for four years and later played for Deccan Blues in the HCA league. It was by ill luck only that he was quit as he was being sidelined by his cricket coach. The end result was that he had perused badminton.
Career of S. M. Arif
It was during his college days, won the inter-varsity badminton championship by representing University of Hyderabad and also represented Andhra Pradesh in several national tournaments. He earned a diploma in badminton coaching from National Institute of Sports at Patiala. In 1974, he joined the national panel of coaches for badminton and in 1997 he was appointed as the National Chief Badminton Coach. Arif coached several Indian badminton players, including the former All England Badminton Champion Pullela Gopichand, the former Indian National Badminton champions P. V. V. Lakshmi, Jwala Gutta, and Saina Nehwal. That youthful exuberance is present even now in this old man as the 68-year-old turns up promptly at the Lal Bahadur Indoor Stadium for the mandatory` early morning coaching sessions. He is as composed as ever while he passes on the baton to the next generation of world champions. "I may have retired officially but none can stop me from the one job that I am most passionate about," is his governing mantra.
For nearly a span of 35 years, Arif has changed the Fateh Maidan Indoor Stadium his `second home` taking the position of coach of the Sports Authority of India ; the unassuming gentleman who has taken coaching to a different level. Involvement and commitment are the watchwords for him. A deep sense of involvement marks the dedication with which he works and trains his students. Approaching his task with immense zeal he is ready to sacrifice his everything for the success of his players. And as the end result should be; his achievement lies in the success of his students. Knowledgeable that he is; he even keeps himself abreast of the latest developments in the sport.
At a particularly critical time when India was nowhere at the top, not even at the Asian levels he came into the scenario the arena as a rescuer. In the late 1970s time was indeed crucial. Magic became reality in1980 when Prakash Padukone beat the top players at their own game to conquer the All England. He took up coaching at a particularly critical time. India was nowhere at the top, not even at the Asian levels. "I feel the late 1970s were crucial.
The magical turnaround came in 1980 when Prakash Padukone beat the top players at their own game to conquer the All England. And the end result manifested in his training skills as he metamorphosed the immense power of role playing from the non-entity one to a paramount global tower in the field of badminton. According to this powerhouse of talent; India is oozing with talent. And as ill luck would have it, the primal lackadaisical attitude of the elders and the thrust on academic excellence are the prime hurdle. He may have retired from the scene, however his enthusiasm and passion hasn`t waned.
