Syed Mohammed Arif

Born:  29 January 1944

• He popularly is known as Arif Saahab, is an Indian badminton coach.
• He is a recipient of Dronacharya Award and Padma Shri Award by the Government of India.
• S. M. Arif, during his college days, won the inter-varsity badminton championship by representing the University of Hyderabad.
• He also represented Andhra Pradesh in several national tournaments.
• He earned a diploma in badminton coaching from the 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.
• He 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.

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