After his recent remark “Don’t play sport unless you’re rich” was debated across the country, Indian national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand addressed the grim realities of sports in India—especially the lack of backup career options for athletes who dedicate their lives to the game but fail to reach the highest level.
“Where are the Opportunities?”
Gopichand raises a pressing question: “Where are the opportunities for athletes who compromise on their education to play sports?”
In response to criticism that his statement “Don’t play sport unless you’re rich” might discourage young talent, Gopichand clarifies the intent behind his words.
“It’s important to understand the context. I’ve been talking about physical literacy and sports for all. It’s supremely important that in a country like ours, children participate in sports. But where are the opportunities for sportspersons who leave their education to pursue sports?”
In the conversation he pointed out a troubling reality of champions ending up in low-profile jobs.
“Today, even if you are a national champion, you end up getting a junior clerk’s position in the Railways, which is distressing. The highest position they can get is a superintendent. When we were playing, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, HPCL, ONGC, Gail, EIL, Oil India, and a few other companies would recruit athletes, but now there are no jobs.”
A System that Needs Reform
Gopichand highlights the issue of young athletes specializing too early without a backup plan.
“Kids are starting to specialize very early or going to academies without having the backup of education. Say we have 2,000 entries in a tournament, not even 10 are going to make it big. What is the exit route for them? Where are the opportunities?”
Gopichand highlights that most of the attention and resources are directed toward the elite few aiming for international medals, while thousands of aspiring athletes are left behind.
“Most stakeholders—whether it’s the government, corporations, or NGOs—focus on the 40-50 people who have what it takes to win medals. Their lives are more or less sorted. But what about the next 5,000 athletes and the next 50,000 below them?”
Education as Safety Net
When asked about possible solutions, the national coach does not hesitate in admitting that he does not have all the solutions but insists that education must be integrated in sports.
“I have 40 athletes playing at my academy. At best, maybe five or ten will make it. The other 30-35 won’t, and they won’t get jobs either. Skilling athletes with education is crucial. We need sports for education, and we need education for sportspersons.”
“In my 40 years in Indian sports, I’ve seen so many exceptional players. The ones who made it are worse than those who didn’t. Those who failed often moved on to something else and built a stable life. But beneath them, there are thousands who never made it big financially and struggle for respect and security later in life.”
A Call for Systemic Change
Gopichand also brings up and important aspect of sports, one that is often overlooked—sports science and its contribution in building the next generation of top athletes.
“By the age of 13 or 14, you get a reality check on whether you can make it at the top level. This should be a sports science-based subject. We should have coaches and sports scientists defining the skills and physical attributes required to be a world-class athlete.”
Despite raising these concerns repeatedly in various forums, Gopichand expresses frustration at the lack of action.
“I have repeated the same conversation in multiple closed-door meetings, but I’m sometimes frustrated that nothing happens. I am not the custodian of the answers. I don’t have all the answers. But I see this problem every day, over multiple cycles, and I’m saying, ‘This needs attention.’ And I am screaming.”
While India has progressed leaps and bounds and continues to celebrate its sporting icons, the more important issue of athlete welfare remains largely unaddressed. Success in sports is a privilege and many are left with little or nothing to fall back on. Although his statements have been debated across the country, his message is clear: playing sports should not come at the cost of education, and systemic change is urgently needed to support those who dedicate their lives to the game.
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