Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Pune Wrestler Sunny Fulmali Calls for Early Government Support for Athletes
Imagine a young athlete who is really good at wrestling and dreams of winning big.
Sunny Fulmali is one such athlete who won a gold medal at a big competition called the Asian Youth Games.
He came from a village and his family didn't have much money.
Luckily, a coach named Sandip helped him with training, food, and school.
Sunny says that it's hard for athletes when they are just starting because they don't have money for special food or training.
He wants the government to help athletes like him with money when they are young and still learning, not just when they win medals.
He believes that if athletes get help early, more Indians will win medals in big games like the Olympics.
Sunny is now practicing hard to win even more medals in the future.
Pune wrestler Sunny Fulmali won a gold medal in the 60-Kg category at the Asian Youth Games 2025 held in Bahrain.
Fulmali comes from a humble background and credits his coach, Sandip Bhondve, for sponsoring his training, education, and diet.
He advocates for the government to provide financial support to athletes during their developmental stages, not exclusively after they achieve international success.
Fulmali argues that early investment in athletes is crucial for improving India's performance in global sporting events, including the Olympics.
His future aspiration is to win a gold medal in wrestling at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
- Who
- Sunny Fulmali, a Pune-based wrestler and Asian Youth Games 2025 gold medalist
- What
- Urging the government to provide financial support to athletes during their learning stages, not just after they win medals, to improve India's performance in global sports.
- When
- Recently after winning a gold medal at the Asian Youth Games 2025
- Where
- Bahrain (location of the games), Pune (athlete's base)
- Why
- To address systemic issues in athlete support and ensure that promising talent receives the necessary resources to succeed, thereby enhancing India's standing in international competitions.
Sunny Fulmali's View
Implicit Government Approach
Timing of Support
Sunny Fulmali's View
Government should provide financial support to promising athletes when they are still learning and developing, not solely after they achieve success in global competitions.
Implicit Government Approach
Government support is primarily demonstrated and allocated after athletes win medals at significant international events, serving as validation of their potential.
Impact of Early Support
Sunny Fulmali's View
Early and consistent financial backing from the government can prevent athletes from facing extreme hardship and allow them to dedicate themselves fully to training, potentially preventing them from becoming daily laborers.
Implicit Government Approach
The current system may not adequately provide the foundational support needed for athletes to reach their full potential, leading to missed opportunities for India on the global stage.
Investment in Sports
Sunny Fulmali's View
Investing in athletes at an early learning stage and ensuring their financial stability is crucial for improving India's overall performance in global championships, including the Olympics.
Implicit Government Approach
The lack of early-stage investment and support may be a contributing factor to India's current standing in major international sporting events.
- Athlete Name
- Sunny Fulmali
- Achievement
- Gold Medal, Asian Youth Games 2025
- Category
- Wrestling, 60-Kg
- Hometown
- Beed village, Maharashtra (migrated to Pune)
- Coach/Sponsor
- Sandip Bhondve (Janata Raja Wrestling Academy)
- Future Goal
- Gold medal in wrestling at the 2028 Summer Olympics