Ola Driver and Olympian Parag Patil’s Story Sparks Discussion on Lack of Support for Indian Athletes

A Mumbai entrepreneur recently shared an emotional story about his Ola driver, Parag Patil, a senior Olympian who has won several medals for India in track and field. The post, shared by Aaryan Singh Kushwah, has sparked an important conversation about the lack of support and recognition for athletes in India.

In his post, Kushwah shared, “My Ola driver is an Olympian. Meet Parag Patil, a senior Olympian who is 2nd in Asia in Triple Jump and 3rd in Asia in Long Jump. Every time he represented India, he came home with medals—2 golds, 11 silvers, and 3 bronze. Yet, he has no sponsors and struggles to make ends meet for his family, let alone pursue his athletic career. This post is a call for anyone to help sponsor Parag so he can continue representing India internationally.”

The post, which included a photo of the driver, quickly went viral and sparked a conversation. Many people expressed pride in Patil’s achievements, while others were disappointed by the lack of support for athletes after their competitive years.

There has been growing demand for better support systems for retired athletes, including sustainable job opportunities and recognition for their contributions, so that their efforts are honored even after they leave the sports arena.

Some comments on the post highlighted the issue, with one saying, “This story shows why India struggles to win Olympic medals. Athletes like Parag Patil, despite their talent, don’t get enough funding or recognition. What can we do to change this?” Another comment pointed out, “We have talent management agencies for influencers in India, but none for athletes. This is a big missed opportunity.” Yet another comment read, “This man deserves so much more. I don’t understand why so many athletes end up like this.”