Editor's Note: Owing to the Coronavirus outbreak, all sporting action across the globe stand suspended or cancelled. The crisis, however, presents us with an opportunity to step back, rethink, and write on sports differently. In line with this thought, we are starting a series of profiles on India's illustrious badminton stars. The articles, penned by Shirish Nadkarni, promise to take you on a nostalgia trip while touching upon the lesser known facets from the lives of the past masters. One of the most pleasurable discussions that Indian badminton lovers can indulge in is to determine who is the greatest badminton player that this country has produced. Opinion would likely swing between Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand, the only two Indians to win the prestigious All-England Championships — in 1980 and 2001, respectively. For the older generation who have witnessed top-quality badminton in the 1950s and 1960s, there would be a third contender whom they would stoutly c