I have gone to numerous companies asking for sponsorship but I have been declined: Tennis Champion Rohan Bopanna
Mumbai: In a candid, raw, no-holds barred conversation, Padma Shri and tennis champion Rohan Bopanna spoke his heart out during a candid conversation on Yuvaa’s masculine positivity show, “Be A Man, Yaar!” Season 2, in his last interview before retiring from Indian tennis. In an honest chat with Media Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Yuvaa, Nikhil Taneja, Rohan shed light on the adversities faced by tennis players in India – a nation where cricket often overshadows other sports.
A stalwart of Indian tennis for over two decades, Rohan expressed the persistent lack of support and recognition accorded to tennis players in India. He said, “India is not a sporting country to be honest, we go to watch the celebrity of the sport.” Tennis, in particular, has grappled with insufficient backing, hindering the growth of promising talent, where tennis players have to pay for their own tickets and stay during matches.
Bopanna further spoke about the challenges of securing sponsorships due to the limited television coverage of Tennis in India. “I have gone to numerous companies asking for sponsorships and they have declined because tennis is not shown in the country. Last year, at the US Open, my team was calling the media broadcasters to say please show my match and they say no it is only one Indian and we cannot show,” he revealed. This lack of visibility has significantly hindered the ability of Indian Tennis players to get noticed, because of the extreme financial challenges.
The Tennis ace also addressed the pervasive issue of online criticism and trolling that often befalls athletes following defeats. “We get abuses every day, social media is great but you get those abuses also. It’s constant. Everybody feels they are also a part of it, so it’s hard you know every day you need to wake up and say be strong,” Bopanna lamented. He emphasized the profound emotional toll that such negativity can exact on athletes.
Amidst these challenges, Bopanna credited his wife as his unwavering support system. “My wife never advised me on my sport but always listened and improved my communication with my Tennis partners,” he shared. A psychologist by profession, his wife, Supriya Annaiah Bopanna, played a pivotal role in enhancing his communication skills. Bopanna candidly admitted that his emotional growth and openness emerged post-marriage, a transformative phase in his life.
In the long chat, Bopanna also talked about his early struggles with the rigours of tennis practice that his father pushed him for, how he fell in love with the sport, his deep friendship with Pakistani Tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, the lessons he learnt from the discord between Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, losing the 2016 Olympics quarter final with Sania Mirza, and his love and respect for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The episode featuring Rohan Bopanna on Yuvaa’s “Be a Man, Yaar!” Season 2 offers a captivating glimpse into the life of a Tennis legend. His candid reflections on the challenges and triumphs of his career make it a must-watch for sports enthusiasts and anyone seeking inspiration.
You can watch the fresh episodes of #BeAManYaar powered by The Man Company on Yuvaa’s YouTube channel. You can also enjoy the extended unfiltered wholesome episodes on Amazon Music.
