India as a country loves celebrating success stories in sports, be it a Cricket World Cup or Olympic medals, we love putting athletes up on a pedestal, mobbing them when they step out of their homes, asking for autographs, selfies and more. It’s a life that many dream of, some spend their entire life chasing it, while only a handful make it to the top. But what happens to the 99% that have dedicated their entire life to a sport, to pursuing excellence, to perfecting their craft only to get nothing in return?
Pullela Gopichand, India’s national badminton coach, has recently highlighted the need for a structured exit pathway for athletes who may not reach the elite level; with education as the key backup for young athletes. When Gopichand said, “Don’t play sport unless you’re rich” many missed the context behind the conversation, like any good coach, having seen thousands of athletes fail, he wanted to push for a safer system for athletes who might not want to pursue sports full time or wanted a safe exit pathway.
On Grounded, the conversation started off with Gopichand recalling his early days, where his mother had to walk long distances to save on the bus fare and get his rackets strung.
“My parents did not have any extra spending, all of it was spent on me. I had to take a loan of twenty thousand to play The All England Open. It was tough times, we would run out of money, we had food at Gurudwaras, especially in England and Hong Kongs. Money was scarce.” recalled Gopichand “My mom would walk long distances in the sun to get my racket strung, just so she could save on the bus fare. We were not in poverty, but if there was a rupee to be spent, it would be spent on my badminton.”
Recalling his stories of struggles, the national coach explained that the entry route for athletes is now easier than back in the day. “It’s the exit that has to be sorted.” He exclaimed how multiple government schemes have supported athletes, even at national level.
When asked about why the Indian education system and the sports system are disconnected, Gopichand remarked, “The two systems are very different. We need to marry both of them. We need to have educated sportspersons and students who are a part of sports.” With the pace that Indian sports have evolved in the recent past, the disconnect has only grown stronger. “This is something we haven’t thought of and I am bringing it up now. I hope this anomaly is sorted out.”
Touching on the topic of mental health, especially in younger athletes and a lack of support at the grassroots level “Self-healing will sort the problem for us. Not everyone has the guidance to get to the top, systemically we need to address this issue. When we know out of the hundred, only one is going to win, how can we not take care of the 99?” he raised a serious question.
“Parents can’t be unrealistic with their expectations, that’s where the most abuse happens. There is a lack of understanding from the society, if you’ve lost, it’s almost like you’ve committed a crime.”
A conversation with Gopichand is always intellectually enriching, but my biggest takeaway from this Grounded episode was a simple yet profound truth—failure is not the end.
In a country that idolises success, we often overlook the countless athletes who dedicate their lives to a sport but never reach the top. Gopichand’s statements are a reminder that losing doesn’t define oneself. What truly matters is having a system that supports both winners and those who don’t make it, ensuring that every athlete, regardless of their journey, has a future beyond the sport.
“It’s okay to lose. It is natural that every national champion will not make it. We have unrealistic expectations from our children, and that is the primary reason why we have mental health issues in young athletes. It is normal to fail, your failure doesn’t define you, your failure is okay.”