PV Sindhu calls for institutional support for young badminton players
The two-time Olympic medallist highlighted the financial challenges faced by younger shuttlers who lack sponsorship or resources for international travel.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu on Tuesday called for continued institutional support for players to address the financial challenges of competing on the international badminton circuit, according to Telangana Today.
Sindhu noted that younger shuttlers often lack the sponsorship or resources required to travel with their support teams. This follows reports that Sindhu and Lakshya Sen had to fund their own participation in four tournaments in Finland, Denmark, France and Germany after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) decided not to finance the trip.
The 31-year-old athlete highlighted the disparity in prize money between tennis and badminton in a post on X. She stated that a first-round exit at Wimbledon earns £80,000, whereas a first-round loss at the China Open earns $2,000.
Sindhu argued that expenses for travel, coaches, physios, trainers and support teams remain largely similar across both sports despite the difference in earnings. She mentioned having long conversations about this disparity with Rohan Bopanna.
While acknowledging the tremendous support extended by the Government of India and SAI to athletes over the years, Sindhu said accountability is necessary. She stated that supporting athletes is an investment in India's sporting future.
The athlete, who reached the final of the French Open, said she has been fortunate to have sponsors to fund her tours but questioned the situation for younger players chasing their dreams.