Trupti Murgunde, a name synonymous with tactical brilliance and resilience in Indian badminton, embodies the spirit of perseverance. Born in Pune on June 3, 1982, she rose through the ranks to become a prominent figure in the sport, representing India on numerous international platforms from 1999 to 2014. Her journey is a testament to the power of tenacity, a quality she emphasizes as her biggest learning from the sport: "Hang on & Don't Give Up".
Murgunde's early career saw her shift to Bangalore to hone her skills at the Tata Padukone Badminton Academy. This move proved pivotal, setting the stage for her national and international achievements. She first tasted success as a state champion in the under-10 category in Maharashtra, followed by a national championship in the junior (under-18) category. At 17, she represented India for the first time at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in 1999.
Despite facing setbacks and fierce competition, Murgunde remained steadfast in her pursuit of excellence. She is a five-time South Asian Games gold medalist, including twice in singles in 2004 and 2006. In 2006, she secured a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the team event at Melbourne. While she and Saina Nehwal reached the semi-finals of the women's doubles event at the same games, they narrowly missed out on a bronze medal.
One of the defining moments of her career came in 2009 when she won the National Championship for women after being a runner-up three times. This victory was particularly sweet, marking a significant milestone after years of relentless effort. In the third round of the National Championships, Murgunde edged out P. V. Sindhu, who was then a 16-year-old sub-junior national champion. In 2009, she also won the Yonex Czech Open International title, defeating Jeanine Cicognini of Switzerland. Additionally, she claimed the NPL All-India ranking badminton championship in Bangalore, triumphing over P.C.Thulasi. In 2010, she clinched the National Badminton Championship women's singles title for the first time in Guwahati, defeating the defending champion Sayali Gokhale.
Murgunde credits her success to the unwavering support of her coaches, Prakash Padukone and Vimal Kumar. She also acknowledges the encouragement from her family, including her mother, Prabha Murgunde, a former kho-kho player who represented Maharashtra. In 2014, at an age when many badminton players retire, Murgunde partnered with her husband, Abhijeet Naimpally, also a badminton player, to prolong her career.
Even after retiring from competitive badminton in 2014, Murgunde remained actively involved in the sport. She served as a Badminton Association of India selector for the Indian National Badminton Team from 2017 and as a coach for the Indian Badminton Team since 2017. She has also lent her expertise as a commentator for major sporting events, including the Rio Olympics 2016, Commonwealth Games 2018, and Asian Games 2018.
In recognition of her contributions to sports, Murgunde was honored with the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games in 2020. This award, presented by the President of India, served as an inspiration for her to continue working towards the development of junior players from smaller towns. Murgunde's journey exemplifies the importance of perseverance and dedication in achieving one's goals. Her story serves as a motivation to athletes and aspiring individuals across fields.
