 "Prakash Padukone, Lakshya Sen, coach Vimal")
India’s Lakshya Sen with his coach Prakash Padukone and Vimal during the Men’s Singles Semifinal badminton match against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Photo: PTI
Amid Indian shuttlers’ poor show at the Paris Olympics 2024, legendary Prakash Padukone came hard on the players on Monday.
While talking to media persons after Lakshya Sen’s fourth-place finish in a men’s singles event, India badminton legend said: “It’s high time players take responsibility. The Govt & Federations have done whatever they can. Players are not working hard enough.”
India shuttlers performance at Paris Olympics 2024
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PV Sindhu (women’s singles) – Quarterfinals -
HS Prannoy (men’s singles) – Lost to Lakshya Sen in quarterfinal -
Lakshya Sen (men’s singles) – Finished 4th -
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (men’s doubles) – Lost in Quarterfinals -
Tanisha Crasto/Ashwini Ponnappa (women’s doubles) – Lost in pre-quarterfinals
How govt and federations supported shuttlers?
India have roped in several foreign coaches and Padukone, who trains PV Sindhu, said it’s time that India bring sports psychologists from aborad.
“It’s high time we have foreign sports psychologist also. This is not to take away anything from the Indian sports psychologist. Some of them are good but I think high time you know the players also realise the importance of sports psychology,” he said.
“It cannot be done just just three months before the Olympics or if somebody wants to do well in the next Olympics they have to start right now and be at it throughout only then will it make a difference.”
Prakash Padukone on India’s Badminton system
He also suggested that there must be a system in place, like it is in China, where they do not depend on one player and succeed in churning out players.
“We cannot remain satisfied just having one player. We need to focus on the next line, maybe even the third line. Like they do in cricket. You have the main team, then the ‘A’ team, then the under-19 team, under-17 team. So we need to focus. There is a lot of talent, there is absolutely no doubt but a combined effort is required,” he told reporters.
“And a little bit of effort from the players also. A little more responsibility, a little more accountability. Not just ask for whatever you ask for. Once you are given that, you also have to be accountable. I think the players have to learn to take responsibility.”
Sen squandered an opening game advantage and an 8-3 lead in the second to go down 21-13 16-21 11-21 to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the 71-minute clash.
 "Lakshya Sen")
Lakshya Sen. Photo: PTI
Prakash Padukone on Lakshya Sen's performance
Padukone said the 22-year-old from Almora needs both — mind training as well game improvement.
“He needs to work a little bit, when he’s playing with the wind. Everybody has a problem but I think he has more problem than others. If you saw the first game, the Malaysian played a lot of them and went out. You were not able to control so it happens but you must learn to control and make less mistakes.
“Mistakes will happen, everybody is comfortable playing against the wind because you can play freely without any hesitation but Lakshya probably needs both. A little bit of mind training and the focus on mind training plus a little bit of practice and a little better control he needs to work on the court as well.”
For Padukone, it was pressure that got to Sen, who wilted when Lee unleashed his power-packed strokes.
“Earlier we were not even getting to number four. One thing is very clear, we need to focus more on mind training. We don’t give enough attention for sports psychology which is very important,” Padukone said.
“In the Olympics, if you’ve seen a lot of top players have all lost, not because they were not good technically or physically but because they couldn’t handle the pressure.
“Olympics is all about handling pressure so all the more important that we pay more attention to mind, do meditation, yoga.”
Prakash Padukone on Manu Bhaker’s achievement at Paris Olympics 2024
Padukone felt that shooter Manu Bhaker probably could do well because she was not under pressure.
“People who are favorites are always under pressure and have not done so well as expected. Most of our medals even in the earlier Olympics have come from people whom we have not expected anything because there is no pressure.”
With PTI inputs
First Published: Aug 06 2024 | 12:34 PM IS