Gopal Purushottam Phadke

Gopal Purushottam Phadke was an Indian sports coach from Pune, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. He was a specialist coach of kho kho, a sport of Indian origin as well as of other sports, such as swimming, Mallakhamb and Kabaddi.

After securing a diploma in engineering, he worked at the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), but left the company to take up sports coaching as a full-time job. and was a member of the advisory committees of All India Radio, Doordarshan and the selection committee of Dronacharya award. the only coach from the sport of kho kho to receive the award. Phadke was honoured by the Government of India in 2003 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.