On this episode of the #OddCast Show, we host champion shooter couple Heena Sidhu and Ronak Pandit. Heena is India's first female shooter to achieve a global rank of number one, and her coach Ronak Pundit, who is also her husband and the coach of the Indian shooting team delve into the challenges and realities of making a career in sports in India. They lay out clear path in academics to the nebulous journey an athlete must navigate. Through their personal stories and observations, they criticise the Indian education system's obsession with academics at the expense of sports, emphasising the lack of infrastructure, guidance, and support for budding athletes. They highlight the necessity for an ecosystem that integrates sports and academics, providing clear pathways, support, and eventual careers for athletes, while also touching upon issues like societal pressure, mental health, and the critical role of proper coaching and governance in sports.Don't miss this.