The badminton legend and the national coach Pullela Gopichand had recently ran the controversy for having declared that only those who come from affluent backgrounds should take sport as a profession. In an exclusive conversation with Rupha Ramani by Firstpost, “Gopi” explains his declaration.
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The badminton icon Pullela Gopichand had recently ran the controversy for his comment suggesting that only children who came from rich horizons should take sport as a profession. In an exclusive conversation with Rupha Ramani on the last episode of First sportsThe National Badminton and Olympian coach explained his comments which were widely criticized.
Gopichand, who had only become the second Indian to win the prestigious England championship in 2001, said that “99%” of those who take sport as a profession do not manage to reach the type of success that would result in a decent living.
He added that these athletes who do not succeed in badminton and other sports often do not have a rescue plan for their career and end up struggling for the rest of their lives.
Sport is a place where 99% is guaranteed to fail: Gopichand
“During the longest period, I recommend that everyone had to play sports, and no one seemed to put it up there. I think what this subject has raised is a problem that is close to my heart and I think what needs us to really think, “Gopichand said on the” Beyond the Line “segment.
“As a country, in recent years, we have grown … people have inspired to take sport. And today, people aspire to be badminton players, to be athletes, to be shooters, to be wrestlers, boxers. Many athletes have come and inspired people to get sports.
“What we are missing here to understand is that sport is a place where it is guaranteed that 99% or more percentage of people (who) take the stranded sport. And it is very important to understand an exit strategy for them. They may not fail because they have not worked hard, but (because) the nature of sport is like that, “added” Gopi “.
The 51 -year -old man, who heads a successful badminton academy in Hyderabad, added that he did not care about the return of his comments as long as people discussed the question on which he intended to shed light.
“If you write an exam, we can all get hundreds of percent. But if 100 people had to play a tournament or a race, only one of them will win. And when the upper position is so elusive, and that we know that 99% will fail, we are not talking about an exit strategy for them.
“This is the unique point I had, and in a certain sense, I agree that the subject is flared and the controversy that occurs, because fortunately, at least people came and we are talking about this subject, which, I think, is very, very important and relevant,” he added.
Look at the full interview here:
