Chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand has urged parents to carefully consider the challenges before encouraging their children to pursue sports professionally, unless they come from affluent backgrounds or have financial security through a family business.
Gopichand, a former All England champion and the architect of India’s rise as a badminton powerhouse, highlighted the grim reality faced by athletes who fail to reach the elite level and struggle to find stability after their sporting careers end.
While talking to PTI, Gopichand emphasized that “the odds of making it big in sports are extremely slim, and those who do not reach the highest echelons often lack the skills and support to transition into other careers. Despite initiatives like Khelo India and corporate sponsorships making sports seem like a lucrative career path, the lack of a robust safety net leaves many athletes struggling for financial security post-retirement.”
Gopichand pointed out the stark disparity in the treatment of sportspersons compared to civil servants, even those who have won Olympic medals. He noted that medalists often find themselves in lower-ranking government positions and must defer to bureaucrats despite having brought glory to the nation.
“Olympic medalists who work in the Railways, RBI, Income Tax, police, or a PSU have a lower rank than a civil servant, who enjoys benefits till the age of 60. The Olympic medalist who has burned himself out will have to call the civil servant ‘sir’ or ‘madam.’ They are at the mercy of the officer, hoping to be respected for their achievements,” Gopichand said.
The coach also highlighted the struggles faced by numerous national athletes post-retirement, citing the example of sprinter Jyoti Yarraji, a silver medalist at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, who has been struggling to secure a proper job despite her achievements. He also expressed disappointment over how legendary hockey players like Dhanraj Pillay and Mukesh Kumar, and Olympic silver medalist shooter Vijay Kumar, have been accommodated after their careers.
Gopichand firmly believes that for India to continue producing world-class athletes, society must establish a comprehensive support system that includes education and career opportunities beyond sports.
“Many years ago, this question wouldn’t have come up because sport wasn’t big enough in India. But today, we have players dedicating their lives entirely to sports, forsaking education. My challenge is, how do I place them in meaningful roles with financial stability and respect, just like other professions?” he questioned.
He pointed out that while elite athletes who achieve national and international glory receive government support in terms of jobs and financial rewards, the real concern lies with those who come close but do not make it to the absolute top.
“Say, for example, you reach age 24 or 25 but haven’t made it to the Indian team. You’re next to Manu Bhaker, Nikhat Zareen, or Aman Sehrawat—second, third, or fourth in the field. What happens to them? They have nothing else,” he noted.
Even Olympic medalists face frustrating career paths. “Sakshi Malik, Aman Sehrawat, or Vijay Kumar—these athletes have reached the pinnacle of sports, yet they will have to salute a junior IRS officer in their office every day. Why should I still salute you?” Gopichand asked, questioning the hierarchy and lack of opportunities for athletes.
Gopichand advocates for a system where sportspersons are provided with administrative and business education after their playing careers.
“Send us to Mussoorie Institute, teach us administration. Send us to ISB, teach us business. And if we fail, that’s different. But you didn’t even try. We have given our whole life to sport, to the country, and then we get nothing,” he lamented.
He emphasized that Indian society must change its perspective on sportspersons, providing them with the same respect and opportunities as professionals in other fields.
“Sportspersons need respect. We don’t want to just salute bureaucrats for 30 years. We have given our all to sport and the country, and we deserve better opportunities,” he said.
Gopichand also highlighted the disparity in earnings between cricket and other sports, stressing that even elite non-cricketing athletes struggle to secure financial stability. He pointed to global models where universities integrate sport and education seamlessly.
“Stanford, Loughborough—these universities have athletes winning 25 to 30 medals while studying. Eighty percent of Fortune 500 companies have former professional athletes in leadership roles. This happens because education and sport go hand in hand,” he explained.
The badminton coach issued a strong caution to middle-class families who push their children into sports without a backup plan.
“If you are middle-class and earning, say, two lakh rupees a month, you would want your child to earn more. But if there’s so much uncertainty in sports, why would a parent push their child into it?” he asked.
He warned that while parents dream of their children becoming the next Sachin Tendulkar or PV Sindhu, the reality is much harsher. “If it happens, God’s grace, fantastic. But 99 out of 100 times, it will not happen. You have to remember that before jumping in,” he advised.
