WATCH: Prakash Padukone Slammed Indian Shuttlers After Disappointing Results At Paris Olympics
Legendary badminton player Prakash Padukone expressed his disappointment over India’s underwhelming performance in badminton at the Paris Olympics, particularly after Lakshya Sen’s loss in the men’s singles bronze medal match on August 5.
Padukone, who has been a mentor to Sen, noted that despite extensive support and resources provided to the athletes, the results did not meet expectations.
For the first time since 2008, Indian badminton players failed to secure a medal at the Olympics. Saina Nehwal had won India’s first Olympic badminton medal, a bronze, in 2012, followed by PV Sindhu’s silver in 2016 and bronze in 2021. However, the Paris Games saw no such success.
“I am a little disappointed that we couldn’t secure even one medal in badminton,” Padukone told reporters after the match.
He praised the Indian government’s efforts, including the Sports Ministry and other stakeholders like the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), for providing comprehensive support to the athletes.
Padukone stressed that the infrastructure and resources were more than adequate, and it was time for the players to take responsibility for their performances.
“We were contenders for three medals, so I would have been happy with at least one. The government, SAI, TOPS, and others did everything they could. This time, the players have no excuse regarding facilities or encouragement. The top 30-40 athletes across all sports were given everything they needed, even when some demands seemed unreasonable,” he stated.
India entered the Paris Olympics with high hopes, especially in badminton, where the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with singles players PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, and Lakshya Sen, were considered strong medal contenders. However, only Sen advanced deep into the tournament, reaching the bronze medal match.
Padukone dismissed concerns that injuries might have affected Sen’s performance in his final match against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, despite Sen requiring medical attention for a bleeding elbow.
“No, I don’t think the injuries impacted the result. That’s just how he plays—diving and retrieving. It’s becoming a habit. While we appreciate his efforts, it’s disappointing we couldn’t secure a medal in badminton,” Padukone concluded.
The disappointing finish in Paris highlights the need for introspection and improvement as India’s badminton players look to future competitions.
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