Former All England champion and current India coach Pullela Gopichand is heading to Qatar on a two-day visit at the invitation of Indian Sports Centre (ISC), an apex body registered under the Indian embassy in Qatar.
The Indian legend will be attending two badminton functions – as chief guest of a tournament finals of ISC and overseeing a talent hunt jointly organised by ISC, the Athlen Sports Events Qatar and Gulf Badminton Academy - on September 2 and 3 respectively, officials involved in organising the twin events informed media yesterday. 
On September 2, Gopichand will be the chief guest at the finals of the India Cup Open Badminton tournament organised by ISC, which kicks starts from today at Al Arabi Stadium.
The tournament, which will be contested by players from different nationalities based in Qatar, will be held in 20 different categories with a total prize-money of QR50,000.
The following day from 8am onwards at Al Arabi Stadium Indoor Hall, Gopichand will oversee the Talent Search cum selection trails along with the team of coaches working at Athlen Sports in association with Gulf Badminton Academy mentored by Gopichand. 
The players who excel during the selection trials and catch the eye of the selectors will get scholarships to train at Athlen Sports Badminton Academy Qatar and at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad.
Gopichand is also a mentor to some of the top players from India who are currently training at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy which was founded by him in 2008 with an aim to produce future badminton champions.
Children belonging to members of the ISC, will get a special discount rates for enrolment to the Athlen Sports Badminton Academy Qatar, officials associated with the academy said.