Pullela Gopichand, India’s chief architect in badminton, opened a pandora’s box by saying sports in India are not for the middle class.
In an interview with the Times of India, Gopichand had advised parents to keep their children away from sporting careers unless they’re from a rich background or have a family business.
His statement gained a lot of attention on social media, leaving professionals, Olympians, and entrepreneurs on LinkedIn divided.
“The Indian sports ecosystem needs urgent reform. I completely agree with Pullela Gopichand’s insights—balancing sports and education is no longer optional, it’s essential.
Government jobs and financial incentives for athletes are disappearing. The recent removal of cash awards for achieving Grandmaster and International Master titles is a stark reminder that relying solely on sports success is risky. Yet, India’s system continues to force young talents to choose between academics and sport
This all-or-nothing mindset is flawed. We admire world-class champions but ignore the thousands of skilled athletes who don’t reach the absolute top. Without a structured collegiate sports system like in the U.S., most athletes are left with limited options.
I’ve lived this reality. While chasing my GM title, I earned a B.S. in Marketing and an M.A. in Management and Leadership from U.S. universities, working on campus to support myself. That balance was crucial—India needs a similar model.
It’s time to stop making young athletes pick between their passion and their future. A strong collegiate sports system can bridge that gap. Let’s build it,” Priyadharshan Kannappan, Founder of Chess Gaja Academy, wrote.
Maana Patel, the first Indian female swimmer to qualify at the Tokyo 2020, also shared her perspective saying, “The solution is not to stop kids from pursuing sport. I believe it is to create systems and environment that focus on over all holistic development of athletes which enables them to learn new skills that help them transition into a second career post retirement .
“The harsh reality of professional sports is that not everyone will make it big. Not everyone will win an Olympic medal, earn fame, or secure the financial stability that comes with it.
“While India is developing and I encourage people to pursue sports, I believe it is crucial to emphasize the importance of education. Sidelining education for professional sports is not a viable option. Sports build character, discipline, and resilience, but education polishes a person, helping them stand apart.
“It also helps individuals discover other interests and develop new skills, providing a safety net for a second career after retiring from sports. Schools, institutions, coaches and parents should create an environment that nurtures both sports and education, preparing young athletes for life outside of sports and helping them find their identity beyond their athletic careers.
“Professional sports can be brutal, often turning athletes into robots who struggle with social skills and transitioning into the real world. I believe athletes can succeed in their sports careers and avoid burnout if they feel secure in their journey, knowing they are learning skills that will support them after retirement, whether it’s through a hobby, a new skill, or further education.
“It also helps mentally as it gives them some time to switch off from their sport and look forward to something else which makes their routine a little less monotonous.
“A holistic development system for athletes is key—a system that fosters growth both as an athlete and as a person. India is making great strides in sports.”
“Pullela Gopichand sir always speaks his mind on sticky issues plaguing the nation, unlike our high and mighty sporting rockstars who are too busy selling cola, endorsing insurance, and promoting fantasy games to think of anything else,” Sudhir Raikar, a Biographer, Chronicler, and Role-play actor opined.
Meanwhile, Kartic Vaidyanathan, Founder at LetUsPlayToLearn said, “Pullela Gopichand, who has given his heart and soul not just as a player, but more as a coach in putting India into the world badminton space has this advice to offer
He is giving practical and sane advice but at the same time, it’s unfortunate that the conditions are like that despite the Government of India trying its best to do more for the field.
I think we should continue our efforts, both as individuals, corporations, society, and nations in whatever form possible to make it better for the sportsmen/sportswomen of the future.
Let’s hope for the best that this area continues to improve for the better in the next 10-15 years”.
A lot of other individuals on the business and employment-focused online professional platform felt that it was a cautionary statement by Gopichand, who has guided Olympic medalists like PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, in their sporting careers and is now a driving force behind his daughter, the women’s doubles player, Gayatri Gopichand.
Further explaining his statement to the Indian Express, the 51-year-old said, “Someone like Tanisha Crasto (Top 30 in badminton mixed doubles) or Treesa Jolly (women’s doubles Top 10) are giving it their all. But when they come and ask me, ‘koi job hai?’, it saddens me. Treesa is two-time All England semi-finalist, but if they still have to think ‘I need a job’, and jobs are elusive and disappearing, then something is majorly wrong. Even top players… Lakshya Sen (World Championship bronze medalist) got a job only a year-and-half ago. Satwik Reddy-Chirag Shetty (former world No 1s) also had to win many titles before they were considered for jobs”.
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