Prakash Padukone Urges Indian Badminton Players to Take Responsibility After Olympic Losses
Paris [France], August 5: Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone has called on players to take responsibility for their performances and not blame the federation for the lack of results. India missed out on medals in the ongoing Paris Olympics, with shuttler Lakshya Sen losing the bronze medal match in men’s singles to Malaysia’s Zii Jia Lee.
Padukone emphasized that athletes were provided with all the facilities they needed and should be accountable for their performances. He stated, “It’s high time the players also need to take responsibility. All these years, we could say there were not enough facilities or encouragement. It is only getting better.”
He added that top players have been given whatever they wanted, even if the demands were sometimes unreasonable. Padukone believes that players need to show more effort, responsibility, and accountability, and inspire the younger generation.
Other Indian athletes also fell short in their events. Shooter Arjun Babuta finished fourth in the men’s 10m air rifle event, while archers Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara lost in the bronze medal match in the mixed team event. Shooters Maheshwari Chauhan and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka missed a bronze medal in the skeet mixed team competition.
Padukone stressed that while the federation and academies can provide support, players need to deliver when it matters most. He said, “Ultimately, they also have to take responsibility and deliver when it matters the most. Because it’s not that, you know, we are expecting they’ve beaten the same players in some other tournaments.”
He also commented on Lakshya Sen’s performance, noting that while Sen played well, he needs to work on certain areas, including his confidence and playing on the faster side. Padukone expressed disappointment that India did not win a single medal in badminton, despite the efforts of the government, Sports Authority of India (SAI), and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
Doubts Revealed
Prakash Padukone -: Prakash Padukone is a famous Indian badminton player who was very successful in the past. He is known for winning many important tournaments and is considered a legend in Indian badminton.
Badminton -: Badminton is a sport where players use rackets to hit a shuttlecock over a net. It can be played by two players (singles) or four players (doubles).
Olympics -: The Olympics is a big sports event that happens every four years where athletes from all over the world compete in different sports. It is one of the most important sports competitions in the world.
Lakshya Sen -: Lakshya Sen is a young Indian badminton player who is very talented. He has won several matches and is considered one of the rising stars in Indian badminton.
Bronze medal -: A bronze medal is a prize given to the person or team that finishes third in a competition. It is made of bronze, which is a type of metal.
Malaysia’s Zii Jia Lee -: Zii Jia Lee is a badminton player from Malaysia. He is very good at the sport and has won many matches, including the one against Lakshya Sen.
Facilities -: Facilities refer to the places and equipment provided to athletes to help them train and perform better. This can include things like sports halls, gyms, and coaching staff.
Accountable -: Being accountable means taking responsibility for your actions and performances. In sports, it means that players should accept both their successes and failures and learn from them.