'I have a different view': Nithin Kamath on Pullela Gopichand’s ‘sports is for the rich’ remark

Nithin Kamath shared a different view on Pullela Gopichand’s remark about sports requiring wealth, highlighting growing career opportunities in coaching.

Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his views on Indian badminton national coach Pullela Gopichand’s statement: "Unless you are rich, don't make your child a sportsperson."

Nithin Kamath shared a different view on X about Pullela Gopichand’s statement, arguing that sports now offer more career options beyond professional play. (Instagram)

Earlier, in an interview with The Times of India, Gopichand had advised parents against encouraging their children to pursue sports professionally unless they had strong financial backing. Kamath, while acknowledging Gopichand’s concerns, offered a different perspective, emphasising the growing opportunities in the sports industry.

Kamath advocates passion-driven careers

Kamath highlighted the challenges of pursuing a career in a field one dislikes, drawing parallels between academics and sports. "While I understand Pullela Gopichand's concern that 'Unless you are rich, don't make your child a sportsperson,' I have a different view. Imagine studying something you don't like or being stuck in a field where your skills could be better utilised elsewhere. The odds are that you may end up performing below average compared to those who are better suited to the field you dislike. In such a case, how can you expect job security? This issue becomes even more critical in the AI-driven world we are entering," he wrote.

Opportunities beyond professional sports

Earlier, Pullela Gopichand had expressed his concerns about the financial challenges of a career in sports. "We are not in a position to offer sports as a career. Unless the children are from rich backgrounds or have a family business, it is not advisable for children to take up sport," he said.