Frustrated by Indian badminton stars’ near-misses at the Paris Olympics, Prakash Padukone stated that players must learn to handle pressure, be accountable, and deliver results with the support they receive. His comments came after Lakshya Sen’s loss in the bronze medal match against Lee Zii Jia, which left the Indian badminton contingent without a medal at the Games.
Indian shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa, a member of the 2024 Olympic badminton team, expressed displeasure with Padukone’s remarks. In an Instagram story, Ponnappa criticised the idea that only players are to blame for losses. She questioned why coaches are not held accountable for preparation and player readiness, emphasising that both victories and defeats are the result of team efforts.
“Disappointing to see this. If a player wins, everyone jumps on the bandwagon to take credit, and if they lose, it’s just the player’s fault?!” Ponnappa wrote in an Instagram story.
“Why aren’t coaches held responsible for lack of preparation and getting the player ready? They are the first ones to take credit for wins; why not take responsibility for their players’ losses as well? At the end of the day, winning takes team effort and losing is also the team’s responsibility. You can’t suddenly push the player under the bus and blame it all on the player.”
Need for mind training
Padukone highlighted the importance of mental training for athletes to handle pressure better. He also suggested adopting a systematic approach similar to China’s, which does not rely on a single player but focuses on developing a broader pool of talent. Padukone proposed having multiple tiers of teams, akin to cricket’s main team, ‘A’ team, and age-group teams, to ensure consistent development and support.
Call for player responsibility
Padukone stressed the need for players to take more responsibility and accountability. He remarked that athletes should not only seek support but also ensure they are fully prepared and learn to manage pressure effectively. He noted that while Sen had an initial advantage in his match, he failed to maintain control, emphasizing the need for better mental fortitude and game improvement.
Sen’s performance and areas for Improvement
Padukone pointed out that Sen, who lost the match 21-13, 16-21, 11-21, needs to work on handling challenging conditions, such as playing with the wind. He acknowledged that while all players face difficulties, Sen’s performance revealed specific areas for improvement. Padukone advised that reducing mistakes and improving control are crucial for Sen’s future success.
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