Author: Savitri Choudhury
Publication: Outlook
Date: February 11, 2002
Pullela Gopichand is an unusual
sportsman whose motto could well be-no fuss, no fizz. The Hyderabad-based
reigning All England Badminton champion is refreshingly different from
most other sports superstars who have no qualms about endorsing a product
as long as it brings them a fat cheque. While some players do say no to
liquor and cigarette commercials, few face moral dilemmas when it comes
to aerated drinks.
Gopi, however, is an exception.
This talented young man with old-fashioned values had no hesitation recently
in turning down a soft drink giant even though it meant kissing a lucrative
contract goodbye. Gopi says principles are more important to him than money.
The five times national champion believes carbonated drinks are bad for
health. So, he refuses to have anything to do with them. He didn't hesitate
in turning down the offer even though badminton remains a relatively low-paying
game both nationally and internationally.
The soft drink company had approached
Gopi through his Chennai-based agents soon after he won the All England
championship last year but he was quick to turn it down. In keeping with
his style, it was a quiet refusal and Gopi made no fuss about the matter.
It would have passed largely unnoticed but for local Telegu filmstar Amala
Akkineni. She publicised Gopi's "principled stand" when he joined her last
Tuesday in supporting the cause of the animal protection group Blue Cross.
Savitri Choudhury spoke to him on this and other related issues. Excerpts:
Q.: Why did you refuse to endorse
the aerated drink?
A.: Personally, I never drink fizzy
drinks so I don't want any child to drink one because of me. I am no medical
expert but I know soft drinks are unhealthy. I have made it clear to my
manager that I will not endorse anything I believe is unhealthy such as
cigarettes, liquor or aerated drinks.
Q.: Saying no to soft drinks might
sound a little extreme to most people.
A.: This has been my stand for
over three to four years now and it's something I feel very strongly about.
As a result of aggressive marketing by cola companies, people have stopped
drinking healthy drinks like fruit juices and people in the villages have
actually begun to believe that soft drinks are good for health. Aerated
drinks are not only bad for health, they are also bad for local industry.
Thanks to aerated drinks, it's becoming more and more difficult to find
nimbu sherbet and coconut water.
Q.: What did saying no cost you?
A.: It is not ethical for me to
go into such details. But, more importantly, when you give up something
on principle then you can't weigh it against money. If I think about the
cost, it is no longer a principled stand.
Q.: Do you make enough money from
badminton to afford such a stand?
A.: As compared to cricket or tennis
we make much less. The All England, which is the sport's highest-paying
tournament, gets you about US $10,000. Winning a local tournament means
making about Rs 50,000 to 60,000. But Indian Oil Corporation also employs
me, where I am the youngest manager. Besides, I have Yonex as an official
sponsor. So yes, even though I may not make as much money as some players
at my level in different sports do, I feel what I make is more than enough
for me.
Q.: Has badminton helped you buy
your own house and car?
A.: I drive my own Hyundai Accent
and live with my parents in a rented flat. But we are in the process of
building a house in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills where the government has
allotted me some land. So, I feel I make enough from badminton to be able
to live comfortably without compromising on my convictions.
Q.: What are the things that you
would want to endorse?
A.: I am a spiritual person and
I enjoy meditating.I have strong feelings about Indian culture and promoting
our Indian way of life. But that does not mean that I am fanatical about
opposing anything western. I don't mind endorsing a good cause or a product
as long as it is not unhealthy.
Q.: What are the things you enjoy
doing?
A.: I love travelling and listening
to music-preferably something Indian and something soft. I enjoy meditating
too. It began as something I did to improve my on-court skills but now
it is a part of my life.