Prakash Padukone blasts Indian shuttlers following Lakshya Sen's defeat; 'High time shuttlers took responsibility'
PTC News Desk: Legendary badminton player Prakash Padukone expressed his displeasure with India's badminton performance at the Paris Olympics after his protégé Lakshya Sen was defeated on Monday, August 5, in the men's singles bronze medal match. Padukone stated that all of the Indian athletes' requests were fulfilled in the run-up to the Olympics, and he anticipated a stronger performance from them, particularly the badminton team.
It was the first time since 2008 that an Indian shuttler did not win a medal at the Olympics. Bronze in women's singles badminton was earned by Saina Nehwal at the 2012 Olympics, the nation's first badminton medal. PV Sindhu did likewise, winning a silver at the Rio Olympics and a bronze in Tokyo.
After Lakshya Sen's bronze medal match, Prakash Padukone told reporters in Paris, "I am a little disappointed that we couldn't get one medal from badminton."
Prakash Padukone lamented the underwhelming performances in Paris but applauded the Sports Ministry and other stakeholders for providing the athletes with unwavering support in the run-up to the Olympics.
"We competed for three medals. So I would have been satisfied with one, at least. Personally, I'm let down. Having said that, everyone has contributed this time, including the government, SAI, foundations, and TOPs. I therefore have nothing against it. Nobody could have gone above and beyond what the government, the Sports Ministry, and TOPs have done, in my opinion. It's time for the players to assume some accountability as well.
"We have been able to claim for years that there weren't enough resources or support. However, I believe that this time is even better. I'm not just referring about badminton here; I'm also talking about the top 30 players. In every event, the top 30–40 players with medal possibilities received whatever they want. He continued, "On occasion, demands that were irrational have been fulfilled.
India hoped to bring home multiple badminton medals to the Olympics in Paris. While PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, and Lakshya Sen competed in the singles division, the Asian Games winners Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were favored to capture a historic gold medal.
Seven shutters made the trip to Paris with great expectations, but Lakshya—the last person to be selected for the Games—arrived at the furthest distance.
Additionally, according to Prakash Padukone, Lakshya's bronze medal match versus Lee was not affected by any concerns about injuries. Lakshya was bleeding from his elbow during the battle, so three times he needed medical attention.
"No, I don't believe that. There was absolutely no damage. He keeps falling in this manner. He's starting to dive and retrieve as a habit. We still have a few things to improve. "We are pleased with his performance, but we were hoping for at least one badminton medal," Padukone remarked.
In the meantime, the former All England champion, who currently oversees the Prakash Padukone Academy in Bengaluru, acknowledged that PV Sindhu's immediate replacement in the women's singles division isn't there and encouraged the organization to provide more support for emerging shuttlers.
"I believe that when an Indian sports team produces a star, there is often too much attention paid to that one person. Furthermore, we don't focus enough on the players in the following line. The federations should concentrate a bit more on that.
As you pointed out, there's a significant void in women's singles, but there are still participants in men's singles. Priyanshu Rajawat is there, and Lakshya is still there. Though I wouldn't say it's excellent, we do have some skill. However, we still have a few young females on the women's side; three or four of them are 13, 14, 16, and 17 years old. "I am uncertain if they will be prepared for the upcoming Olympics," he continued.
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- With inputs from agencies
