PV Sindhu defends government funding for badminton players, says support is investment
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Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has defended government funding for Indian badminton players, saying public support is essential for young athletes who cannot afford the costs of competing internationally.
Sindhu was responding to sports journalist S Kannan, who questioned why established players such as her and Lakshya Sen should depend on public money to fund international tours. Kannan also cited tennis, where players receive comparatively little government support.
Sindhu said the comparison overlooked the difference in prize money between the two sports. A first-round exit at Wimbledon earns £80,000, while winning the China Open, one of badminton's richest tournaments, brings $140,000. A first-round loss at the badminton event earns just $2,000, she said.
“Yet our expenses are largely similar. Travel, coaches, physios, trainers and support teams,” Sindhu wrote on X on Tuesday. She added that she had discussed the disparity with Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna.
Sindhu agreed that established athletes should work towards financial independence but said not everyone had access to sponsors. She also highlighted the role of organisations such as Olympic Gold Quest in supporting players.
She raised concerns about younger shuttlers during India's recent European campaign, saying some had to compete without coaches while several others withdrew from tournaments.
“I can find ways to fund my tour. But what about the 18-year-old chasing her dreams, hoping to become the next Sindhu or Lakshya?” she wrote.
The funding issue arose after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) did not release the expected support for the four-tournament campaign in Finland, Denmark, France and Germany.
An SAI official told The Indian Express that the funds could not be sanctioned because the Badminton Association of India had not submitted a proposal within the required 30-day deadline. The official said funding for upcoming tournaments would be restored, but players would not be reimbursed for expenses already incurred.
Sindhu acknowledged the government's support over the years, saying, “Accountability is absolutely necessary. But supporting athletes isn't bleeding the system. It's investing in India's sporting future.”