PV Sindhu Urges Greater Financial Support For Emerging Shuttlers: ‘Everyone Isn’t Privileged’

Last Updated:November 03, 2026, 9:42 PM IST

The double Olympic medallist said that while she can fund her own tours, many young shuttlers chasing international success depend on financial assistance to sustain their careers.

PV Sindhu is Hylo Open champion (Picture credit: BWF)

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has said that it’s not logical to compare prize money and players’ affordability in tennis and badminton, adding that young shuttlers need greater financial support, since they are not as privileged as some of the biggest stars.

Sindhu and Lakshya Sen capped a successful European campaign by winning titles at the Hylo Open in Germany on Sunday, November 1. But it later emerged that the shuttlers had to bear the expenses for all four tournaments in Finland, Denmark, France and Germany after the Sports Authority of India declined to fund their tour.

Hours after the funding controversy emerged, Sindhu highlighted the disparity in prize money between tennis and badminton.

“A first-round exit at Wimbledon earns £80,000. Winning the China Open, one of badminton’s richest tournaments, earns $140,000,” Sindhu tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

“I have been fortunate to have wonderful sponsors, but not everyone has that privilege. That is also why organisations like @OGQ_India are so important,” Sindhu said.

OGQ India is a not-for-profit organisation that identifies and supports promising Indian athletes and para-athletes, helping them prepare for and win medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It provides financial assistance to athletes to cover their training and competition-related expenses.

Sindhu argued that despite the disparity in earnings, shuttlers incur expenses similar to those in tennis on travel, coaching, physiotherapy, training and other support staff.

“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?” Sindhu questioned.

“Accountability is absolutely necessary. But supporting athletes is not bleeding the system,” Sindhu said.

The controversy centres on the shuttlers having to arrange their own finances for a European tour covering four nations: Finland, Denmark, France and Germany. But it has emerged that the Badminton Association of India didn’t receive clearance from the SAI in time after delaying the submission of the tournament list for approval.

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Why did PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen have to self-fund their European tour?

The shuttlers had to bear their own expenses for tournaments in Finland, Denmark, France, and Germany after the Sports Authority of India declined to fund the tour. According to reports, the funding was not processed because the Badminton Association of India delayed submitting the tournament list for approval in time.

What prize money disparity did PV Sindhu highlight between tennis and badminton?

PV Sindhu pointed out that a first-round exit at Wimbledon earns £80,000, whereas winning the China Open—one of badminton’s richest tournaments—earns $140,000, with a first-round loss yielding only $2,000. Despite these massive differences in earnings, she emphasized that the operational expenses for travel, coaches, physiotherapists, and support staff remain largely similar between the two sports.

What role does OGQ India play in supporting athletes like PV Sindhu?

OGQ India is a not-for-profit organization that identifies and supports promising Indian athletes and para-athletes to help them prepare for and win medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It provides vital financial assistance to cover training and competition-related expenses for competitors who may not have private sponsorships.

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