Badminton legend Pullela Gopichand creates needless controversy | Special Report

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Responsibility is a term used for discipline in life at large. In sporting parlance, responsibility has to be exercised by all - athletes, coaches and officials. One man who has seen the highs, as a player and now as coach/mentor, has set the cat among the pigeon, Pullela Gopichand.

In an interview to a leading newspaper, Gopi has made some comment like this: "Reality of sports is less than 1 per cent people, who take up a discipline end up having it as a profession or career. Think of what has happened to hundreds of people who have represented the country in the last 20 years in various sports, won medals. Where are they today? What is their future. What is their earning capacity?"

Pray, what has prompted Gopi, former All England champions, master coach and mentor and now also an official in the Badminton Association of India to say this. The world of sports knows, Gopi has been blessed with many good things in life, money and riches included.

He is part of the one per cent who clicked as an athlete and a coach. He has mentored many, again, not all becoming champions. So, to say, there will be an existential crisis of sorts for those who take up sports is an alarming and irresponsible message from Gopichand. And his own daughter Gayatri also plays badminton.

Sport in India other than cricket means an athlete relies on funding. From the lowest level to state and national level, now there is an opportunity. Nobody said chuck studies/academics and play sport.

"I find this whole thing funny, someone like Gopi saying this. I mean, look at our legends, Neeraj Chopra, P.Sreejesh, Manu Bhaker, Milkha Singh, Usha Madam and so many more like Mary Kom and Mirabai Chanu, have they not done well in sports," thundered Dronacharya Jaspal Rana. Like Jaspal Rana, many more are worried why Gopi has said this.

"I am confused why this stuff from Gopi," said a prominent male shooter who represented India in the Paris 2024 Olympics. He did not wish to be named as he respects Gopichand and knows he has mentored Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu as well in the past.

"Gopi has made it big time and he has made money as well. If he is suggesting take up sports in India at your own risk, he does not deserve to be a national coach any longer. This is a bad message going out from Gopi. Imagine, how many budding badminton players will wonder what to do now. After all, Gopi Sir is saying it," he added further.

Rewind to Indian sports history, Olympic sports, Para sports and even cricket, there are great stories of making it big against all odds. Not all make it big, not all win Olympic medals. Why, even when Leander Paes left Calcutta and joined the BAT Academy in Madras as a young boy, he was not from a rich family.

Dad Vece Paes had medical practice for sure but he had to look after his family as well. And when Leander left BAT in 1990, he had no funds. From there till 1996, when Leander won the bronze medal in the Atlanta Olympics, Leander had struggled on the ATP Tour.

Ask Karnam Malleswari how much she has struggled in her life. Forget protein shakes and more, to get two square meals and then train in weightlifting in Andhra Pradesh was impossible. But she did it and now mentors young weightlifter in Yamunanagar, Haryana.

There are many parents, whose sons and daughters had chucked sports in the past. Today, they are clapping for Gopichand on social media. To say he is an alarmist would not be an exaggeration. Come on, how can India have a national coach and an official in the BAI who is so negative? This is not on.

Gopi is a role model for many still. He can cross-check with legend Prakash Padukone if he came from a rich family. Prakash is a content man and so is Vimal Kumar. The stories are endless. Neeraj Chopra, India's biggest Olympic star has won two Olympics medals and joined the Indian Army. He is a non-commissioned officer, still. If Neeraj is rich today, Gopi should ask him how much he slogged to reach here. Today, even Neeraj's wife, Himani can tell Gopi on her struggles in a tennis career.

It is shocking, at a time when India is dead serious about hosting the 2036 Olympics and 2030 Commonwealth Games, Gopichand has spoken recklessly. The Central Government is going all out to create awareness on being fit, fighting obesity and lifestyle diseases.

At least, playing some sport will help fight lifestyle diseases. If Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandviya and IOA President PT Usha are setting an example, one expects Gopichand to talk with maturity and sensitivity.