P.V. Sindhu counters criticism over public funding for athletes, says supporting sport is an investment

Kannan questioned why elite athletes such as Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, who compete professionally, could not finance their own international tours. Drawing a comparison with tennis, he argued that players in the sport largely manage their expenses independently and said he would not fault the Sports Authority of India (SAI) over the issue.

Responding to the remarks, Sindhu said the economics of professional badminton were different and that the financial realities of the sport needed to be understood before drawing comparisons. She pointed out that while a first-round exit at Wimbledon earns a tennis player around £80,000, a first-round loss at the China Open in badminton brings approximately $2,000, despite substantial expenses involved in international competition.

Sindhu said the costs of travel, coaching, physiotherapy, fitness training and maintaining support teams remain significant, irrespective of how far an athlete progresses in a tournament. She acknowledged that established players should work towards financial independence and said she had been fortunate to receive support from sponsors.

However, she stressed that not every player enjoys similar financial backing. Referring to reports on the difficulties faced by Indian badminton players, she said younger athletes had been forced to compete without coaches, while several others had withdrawn from tournaments.

The Olympic medallist said she could find ways to finance her own international circuit, but questioned how an 18-year-old aspiring to become the next Sindhu or Lakshya Sen could manage without institutional support.

Sindhu also acknowledged the contribution of the Government of India and SAI in supporting Indian athletes over the years. She highlighted the role of organisations such as Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) in helping players access financial and professional support.

“Supporting athletes isn’t bleeding the system. It’s investing in India’s sporting future,” Sindhu argued, adding that accountability was necessary but should not come at the cost of supporting emerging talent.