Mugdha Agrey Exclusive: My parents are my only source of financial help; I have no external support, says beleaguered shuttler


Mugdha Agrey Exclusive: My parents are my only source of financial help; I have no external support, says beleaguered shuttler

Mugdha Agrey - (Mugdha Agrey/LinkedIn)

Mugdha Agrey is one of the five Indian shuttlers in the top 100 of the BWF women’s singles rankings. But that is not enough for her to secure sponsorships or any institutional support to play badminton tournaments abroad. Currently ranked 97th in the BWF women’s singles world rankings, Mugdha was better placed at 59th spot in 2019 behind star shuttlers PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. But COVID-19 pandemic blue has held up her progress. Since 2020 due to financial constraints she could not afford to play international tournaments which eventually dragged her down to almost at the bottom of the top 100. 

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On Wednesday, Mugdha Agrey took to LinkedIn seeking help from “organizations, companies, associations, and individuals” to realise her dream of playing badminton.

Now 22, Mugdha did not get bogged down by the crisis. She instead sets her eye on the 2024 Paris Olympics. But to reach there, she needs to improve her ranking as only the Top 16 can qualify in the Olympic Games. For India, no international tour for Mugdha would mean a waste of talent.

FirstSportz catches up with shuttler Mugdha Agrey a day after she sought help on LinkedIn which has so far been seen by over ten thousand people.

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Excerpts…

Q: Since when you have been facing a fund crisis?

Mugdha: I have been facing a fund crisis since 2019.

Q: Have any private entity come forward to help you as you have made a public request on the employment networking site LinkedIn?

Mugdha Agrey: Many entities have come forward. I do not want to reveal the names at this point. Talks are going on.

Q: You are now 22. This is usually considered as the peak time for any badminton player. How do you cope with the challenges of not playing international tournaments? Does not it hurt you?

World No. 97 Mugdha Agrey won two silver medals (Ghana International Series 2019 and Lagos International Challenge 2017) and two bronze medals (Bangladesh and India International Challenge 2018).

Mugdha: As I am not able to play international tournaments it hurts me a lot. The only thing I can do is train hard with whatever I have with me and hope for the best.

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Q: You are one of the five Indian women’s singles players in the Top 100 of the BWF Rankings. You are also one of the probables for India in the Paris Olympics, has not the BAI and SAI come forward to help you? Enrolment in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) or National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC) and various other schemes would have been helpful for you.

Mugdha: No institutional support has come in my way so far.

Q: Where do you train in India and who is your coach?

Mugdha: I train in Nagpur, Maharashtra at Jibi School of Sports under Mr Jibi Varghese, a former international player and he is part of the junior Indian team coaching panel.

Q: How about the Maharashtra state badminton association? Did you get any assistance from them?

Mugdha: Not yet.

Q: What was your last international tournament? And what are the international badminton tournaments you have played so far?

Mugdha: I have played INFOSYS FOUNDATION India International Challenge 2021 and Belgium International Challenge 2021 recently. I play Superseries 500, Grand Prix Gold, Grand Prix, International Challenge and International Series regularly according to my financial conditions.

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Q: What do your parents do?

Mugdha: My father is a government employee. My mother is a housewife.

Q: What inspired you to take up an individual sport like badminton which is quite expensive and needs money to sustain?

Mugdha: My father used to play badminton for fitness and it had intrigued me as a child. I picked up a racquet and shuttle just for fun. Later I developed interest but was unaware of the expenditure that this sport demands. Now I have reached a stage from where I cannot give up.

Q: In badminton, expenditure on shuttles is a big headache for any shuttler. How do you manage the expenses of shuttles and racquets?

Mugdha Agrey is one of the only five Indians in the Top 100 of the BWF women’s singles world rankings.

Mugdha: Till now my parents are my only source of help. They are meeting out all my expenses. I am somehow managing my career with their help.

Q: Have you ever thought of quitting? 

Mugdha: Never ever

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Q: There has been a talk about India’s limited talent pool in women’s singles at the international level. I have heard of shuttlers facing a severe financial crisis and leaving for Europe to play club badminton in order to play more international matches in the European badminton circuit. Are you considering any such move?

Mugdha: Playing club tournaments gives one a lot of match practice but leave us with no time for correction which eventually averts your progress.

 Q: How do you see your chances to qualify in Paris 2024?          

Mugdha: Sports is very unpredictable. I have reached where I am today without any external support. My parents and my coach are my only support in my struggle. When I started playing badminton I never thought I will become a professional. But today I have reached a stage that makes me confident. I believe it can be done.