Pullela Gopichand, the former Indian badminton star turned national coach, has ignited controversy with his recent comments about the challenges young athletes face, particularly those who aspire to pursue sports professionally without significant financial backing. Speaking during The Playmakers, a live panel discussion hosted by The Bridge on February 23, 2025, Gopichand emphasized the harsh realities of succeeding in sports, indicating to parents the necessity of considering their child's financial future when contemplating support for sports careers.
"I advise parents not to put their children in sports. We are not in a position to offer sports as a career. Unless the children are from rich backgrounds or have family businesses, it is not advised for children to take up sports," Gopichand was quoted as saying by The Times of India. This stark recommendation drew significant backlash, prompting Gopichand to clarify his remarks shortly after. His comments struck at the heart of the old debate on career sustainability for athletes, particularly for those from less privileged backgrounds.
According to Gopichand, the sporting environment is fraught with unpredictability. He recounted his own experiences and the importance of having safety nets available. Drawing from personal anecdotes, he recalled how landing a job at Tata Steel at 18 was instrumental in allowing him to continue pursuing badminton. Without it, Gopichand suggested he may have turned to other avenues for stability. "What made me continue playing the sport was my job in Tata Steel, which was very important. If I did not get the job, I would have focused on engineering somehow," he reflected.
This perspective is not unique to Gopichand. Parupalli Kashyap, another prominent figure from the badminton community, echoed support for Gopichand's stance, describing his outlook as “pragmatic, not pessimistic.” Kashyap highlighted the urgent need to address the safety net for athletes who do not reach the upper echelons of sporting success.
Gopichand articulated frustration with the current infrastructure available for athletes. He lamented the situation of national champions holding low-paying jobs, asserting, "We have national champions, who work as peons. We have National Games champions without jobs, we have Asian Games silver medallists, national record holders working as junior clerks. These are not great jobs. We want the best jobs for our athletes. This should be the minimum support they can expect after years of struggle and dedication to their sport.” He argued for systematic reform, stating, "It is mandatory for India to start thinking of exit plans for athletes who retire or fail to make it big after dedicacing years to sports.”
The backlash against Gopichand's comments took on various forms. Nithin Kamath, the CEO of Zerodha, took to social media to counter Gopichand's assertion, arguing against the notion of cautioning parents about allowing their children to pursue sports. Kamath's post elaborated on how contemporary sports enthusiasts have more career opportunities than ever before, even if they fail to make it as professional athletes. "Even if someone does not succeed as a professional athlete, there are now various alternative career paths, such as becoming a coach or personal trainer. There’s more demand for such folks today than at any point," Kamath explained on X, highlighting the shifting dynamics within the sporting world and broader career opportunities arising beyond traditional professional boundaries.
While Gopichand acknowledged the challenges, he insisted his comments aimed at instigative thought rather than discouragement. He highlighted the dire circumstances faced by many athletes, saying, "I see players across various sports giving up education to pursue their sport, but it's painful to tell them there are no job opportunities waiting for them, even with their exceptional athletic skills. This situation needs attention.”
Subsequent to criticism, Gopichand provided clarification to underline his intentions, stating, “Being in sports has been a long struggle. Sport should be for everyone. But the system sometimes falls short of providing necessary avenues for them even when they triumph at high levels.” He underlined the necessity of respect and opportunities at higher levels for accomplished athletes and proposed changes to education and training frameworks.
From top shuttlers like Lakshya Sen, who struggled for nearly two years before securing employment, to lesser-known champions confronting even steeper challenges, the stories of many athletes serve as powerful reminders of the uphill battles faced beyond the court. Gopichand implored authorities to rethink how mass participation is marketed without addressing systemic oppressions affecting athletes after they retire, adding, “Look at others and see what they become. They deserve jobs at respectable levels, not just junior clerk positions.”
The discourse Gopichand stimulated reveals deep-seated issues within Indian sports. Discussions triggered by his comments bring to light the need for mechanisms supporting athletes after they cease competing, potentially igniting scarce discussions about reimagining how sporting success and life beyond it can be interconnected to form sustainable career frameworks.