‘2 Golds, 11 Silvers’: The Heartfelt Story Behind Mumbai’s Olympian Ola Driver
'2 Golds, 11 Silvers': The Heartfelt Story Behind Mumbai's Olympian Ola Driver
The entrepreneur took to social media to share the story, highlighting the frequently ignored challenges that athletes in India endure.
A Mumbai entrepreneur recently shared an emotional encounter with his Ola driver, Parag Patil, a senior Olympian who has earned multiple medals for India in track and field. The story, posted by Aaryan Singh Kushwah, has sparked a vital conversation about the lack of recognition and financial backing for India’s athletes.
“My Ola driver is an Olympian. Meet Parag Patil Senior Olympian: 2nd in Asia in the Triple Jump. 3rd in Asia in the Long Jump. Each time he has represented India internationally, he has never returned without a medal. 2 golds, 11 silvers, 3 bronze. Yet he has no sponsors and just enough funds to feed his family, let alone pursue his athletic career. This post is a call to action for anyone that can help sponsor Paras to represent and win for India internationally,” says a post by a Mumbai-based entrepreneur.
Aaryan Singh Kushwah also posted a photo of the driver in the social media post.
The touching image of Kushwah and Patil’s unexpected meeting quickly went viral on social media, igniting an important discussion. Many expressed pride in the driver’s remarkable accomplishments, while others voiced their disappointment and worries regarding the insufficient support available for retired athletes.
There has been a strong demand for prompt measures to establish sustainable employment opportunities and recognition initiatives for these athletes, guaranteeing that their contributions are appreciated and honored well beyond their time in the sports arena.
“This story is a harsh reminder of why India struggles to produce Olympic medals. Athletes like Parag Patil, despite their talent and achievements, face poor funding, lack of recognition, and zero long-term support. What can we do to fix this broken system and back such talents,” says one comment. “This is a real problem. We have multiple talent management agencies for influences in India but none for sports men/women. It could potentially be a huge untapped market,” says another comment. “Bruh, this man deserves a lot. idk why many athletes end up like this,” was another comment.
