When we see athletes winning medals for the nation, it makes us all proud. We often post about their wins on social media and well, that’s about it. As harsh as it may sound, we just remember them when they win big for the nation. As they grow older, they end up losing sponsors and turning to other professions to earn money. And that’s exactly what happened to this former Olympian who now drives an Ola cab in Mumbai.
Former Olympian Turns Ola Driver Due To Lack Of Sponsors
Mumbai-based entrepreneur Aaryan Singh Kushwah was pleasantly surprised while taking a cab ride recently. In a LinkedIn post, he shared that his Ola cab driver wasn’t a regular man but a decorated athlete who had represented India at several international events. His name was Parag Patil and he has bagged several medals for India.
In the post, Aaryan mentioned that due to “no sponsors and just enough funds to feed his family, let alone pursue his athletic career,” Parag had to take up a job as an Ola cab driver. The post was a “call to action for anyone that can help sponsor Parag to represent and win for India internationally.”
Many people commented on the post and showed their support for Parag. One of the netizens commented, “This man deserves a lot. idk why many athletes end up like this.” While another said, “This is a real problem. We have multiple talent management agencies for influencers in India but none for sportsmen/women, it could potentially be a huge untapped market.”
Parag Patil’s Achievements For India
Aaryan Singh Kushwah’s post highlighted some of Parag Patil’s achievements. Talking of the former Olympian-turned-Ola driver’s achievements, he mentioned that Parag won “2 golds, 11 silvers, 3 bronze” in various international sporting events. In fact, the post mentioned that “each time he has represented India internationally, he has never returned without a medal.” He secured 2nd place in Asia in the Triple Jump event and 3rd place in Asia in the Long Jump event.
Parag Patil might be an Ola cab driver now, but his illustrious career as an athlete is something that can give many youngsters inspiration. We hope that Aaryan’s post can help sponsors reach out to Parag and help him continue his journey as an athlete.
Cover Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/Aaryan Singh Kushwah
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