‘Disappointed’ Prakash Padukone Reflects on Indian Athletes’ Performance at Paris Olympics 2024

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Prakash Padukone, a revered figure in Indian badminton, has called on Indian athletes to take greater responsibility and rise to the occasion after the country's disappointing performance in badminton at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Padukone, whose protégé Lakshya Sen narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the men's singles, expressed his disappointment, particularly because this marks the first time since 2008 that India failed to secure a badminton medal at the Olympics.

Prakash Padukone expressed his disappointment to reporters in Paris after Lakshya Sen's bronze medal match, saying, "I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't manage to secure a single medal in badminton."

Padukone commended the efforts of the Indian government, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and other stakeholders, acknowledging that every possible support was provided to the athletes.

"This time, the government, the SAI, and the foundations, the TOPs, everybody have done their bit... I don't think anybody could have done anything more," Padukone stated, emphasizing that the infrastructure and resources made available to the top athletes were unparalleled.

"All these years we could say there were not enough facilities or encouragement. But, I think this time, it's only better. Especially, the top 30 players, I am not just talking about badminton.

"Across all sports, the top 30-40 who had chances of winning medals, were given whatever they wanted. Sometimes, even if they were unreasonable demands, they have been met," he added.

However, despite these efforts, the results in Paris fell short of expectations. India entered the Games with high hopes in badminton, particularly with the men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who were seen as strong contenders for a gold medal.

Additionally, seasoned players like PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, and Lakshya Sen were all in contention in the singles events. Unfortunately, none of them managed to clinch a medal, with Lakshya being the only one to come close, reaching the bronze medal match.

Padukone also highlighted a growing concern in women's singles, noting the lack of a successor to PV Sindhu. "There is too much focus on just one player... there is a big vacuum in ladies' singles," he remarked, urging the badminton federation to invest more in nurturing the next generation of players.

While there are promising young talents, such as those in the 13-17 age group, Padukone expressed uncertainty about their readiness for future Olympic challenges.

Reflecting on Lakshya Sen's performance, Padukone dismissed concerns that injuries played a role in his loss to South Korea's Lee in the bronze medal match.

"There was no injury at all... it's becoming a habit with him now, to dive and retrieve," he observed, suggesting that while Lakshya's determination is commendable, there are still areas that need improvement.

Padukone's candid assessment serves as a wake-up call for Indian badminton, urging athletes to take ownership of their performances and for the sport's administrators to build a stronger pipeline of talent to sustain success on the global stage.