It was just another cab ride in Mumbai for entrepreneur Aaryan Singh Kushwah until when he found out that his Ola driver Parag Patil is a former Olympian. In the series of events that followed, he was so impressed by the achievements of his chauffeur and equally shocked by his plight, that he soon took to social media describing the incident in detail. His LinkedIn post is now gathering massive viewership and reactions.
Patil has represented India in international athletics and the Olympics. He holds an impressive tally of two gold, 11 silver, and three bronze medals, mostly in the triple jump and long jump events.
The Viral Encounter
Kushwah shared this extraordinary experience in a LinkedIn post that quickly went viral, shedding light on Patil’s struggles, leaving the readers to ponder on the post-retirement life of athletes. He wrote:
“My Ola driver is an Olympian. Meet Parag Patil, Senior Olympian: 2nd in Asia in the Triple Jump. 3rd in Asia in the Long Jump. Every time he represented India internationally, he returned with a medal—2 golds, 11 silvers, 3 bronze. Yet, he has no sponsors and barely enough funds to support his family, let alone pursue his athletic career. This post is a call to action for anyone who can help sponsor Parag to represent and win for India internationally.”
Accompanying the post was a photo of Kushwah with Patil, which quickly resonated with social media users, sparking widespread admiration, discussions and concerns.
Social Media Reacts
The story drew emotional responses, with many praising Patil’s resilience while lamenting the lack of governmental and other supports for Indian athletes post-retirement.
“This is both inspiring and heartbreaking. What a story of resilience!” one user commented.
Another expressed frustration, saying, “Our sports legends deserve better than this. We need to step up as a nation.”
Some users suggested solutions like crowdfunding and corporate sponsorships to help Patil regain his footing. One commenter noted, “Why aren’t there sustainable programs for athletes after retirement? This needs urgent attention!” Another added, “Let’s crowdfund this. Parag deserves another chance to shine.”
A Larger Issue: Lack of Support for Retired Athletes
Patil’s story highlights a systemic issue in India: the lack of post-retirement support for athletes. Despite bringing glory to the nation, many athletes face financial struggles after their competitive careers end. Unlike countries with structured programs and financial backing for retired sports professionals, Indian athletes are often left to fend for themselves, sometimes taking up unrelated jobs to survive.
However, it cannot be said that India is hostile to all sports. It is selective in offering support. Cricket as a sport, holds sky-high reputation in the country and most Indian cricketers are paid well, are financially well-off and are considered heroic figures. It is not the same everywhere. We have seen cricketers of other countries take up jobs as cabbies and bus drivers to sustain their families.
When it comes to most other sports, India is quite unfair with benefits and financial backing. Not everyone gets to enjoy a well-off life despite having fetched pride to the nation with their wins and achievements.
A Call to Action
The viral post has brought attention to the urgent need for better systems to support retired athletes in India. From crowdfunding efforts to sponsorship opportunities, netizens have rallied behind Patil, hoping to provide him with better financial stability and a higher quality of life for his family.
Kushwah’s Success And Struggles
Kushwah getting to shed light on the athlete’s present condition, is in a way, special. Both him and the Olympian have had major struggles and triumphs in their respective lives. Kushwah is just 17 years old. He was once denied admission to Stanford- the same did not stop him from scaling heights in life.
He currently owns two startups- 90nine.in and sapieniq. Kushwah managed to secure $10,000 emergent grant, crossed 220K total users, and hit a milestone of 2 million daily impressions on the same day that he was denied admission! What a sweet revenge…
