Several of India’s most celebrated sporting personalities have voiced support for the ongoing student protests across the country, calling for a transparent, fair and merit-based education system.  

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, former cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan and Mohammad Kaif, Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu, wrestler Vinesh Phogat and Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker were among the athletes who publicly backed the students’ demands.

Recalling the values taught by his late father, who was a professor, Tendulkar wrote that failure is acceptable, but cheating is not.

He urged young people never to take shortcuts and stressed that society must promote hard work over mere results.

“If society values only outcomes instead of effort, people will look for shortcuts rather than merit,” Tendulkar said.

 He added that it was understandable if students felt their hard work had not been rewarded, and called on all stakeholders to build a system where merit, honesty and dedication are recognised and rewarded.

The batting great also said India’s youth are full of dreams and potential, and that parents, teachers, educational institutions, administrators and society as a whole share the responsibility of creating an environment where integrity is encouraged, and merit prevails.

Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra echoed similar sentiments, saying education should remain above politics.

He said he had never considered himself a political figure, but believed some issues transcend political differences, with education being one of them.

Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu also expressed support for the protesters, saying that while many positive developments were taking place in the country, recent troubling incidents had raised serious concerns.

Referring to the student demonstrations in Delhi, she said she believed the protesters were “doing the right thing.”

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said every child, student, woman and man has the right to study in a peaceful environment, remain safe and pursue their dreams.

He called for dialogue to find an acceptable solution for the future of the country.

Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that, as a father, he was deeply disturbed by reports of police using force against students protesting flaws in the education system.

He urged authorities to stop the baton charge on students in Delhi and expressed hope that the issue would be resolved through constructive dialogue.