Paris Olympics 2024: 'Had he lost...,' Mentor Prakash Padukone slams Lakshya Sen for failing to win medal
Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshya Sen loses badminton semis tie, to play for bronze
Former India shuttler and Lakshya Sen's mentor Prakash Padukone has slammed the Indian badminton players for not winning a single medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.
Padukone's comments came on the back of Lakshya's loss in the bronze medal match on Monday (Aug 5) against Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia. Lakshya lost 21-13, 16-21, 11-21.
“I and Vimal are not happy with the fourth position of Lakshya (Sen). He could have definitely gotten a medal. I know (Viktor) Axelsen might say that Lakshya is the next best, but that is not good enough because there was a possibility of a medal,” Padukone told reporters after Lakshya's bronze medal loss.
“Had he lost comfortably, it would have been a different issue. But to have come this far, to have taken the lead…I know he is young, but he cannot give this as an excuse. Take the responsibility and work harder,” Padukone added.
This is the first time India failed to win a medal in badminton since 2012 London Games when Saina Nehwal had won bronze. In 2016 Rio Games and 2021 Tokoyo Games, it was PV Sindhu who won a silver and a bronze, respectively.
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Padukone said that the athletes need to introspect and can't ask for more from the federations as they have the best facilities available.
"At least for the results in this Olympics and the previous one, you cannot hold the federations and government responsible for the results. They have all done whatever they can. Ultimately the responsibility is on the players to go an deliver when it matters the most."
“The players need to introspect, and not just keep asking for more from the federations. They need to ask themselves whether they are working hard enough, because all of these players have their own physios and all the facilities. I don’t think any other country, including the US, has so many facilities,” he added.
Despite the loss, Laskhya created history by becoming the first India male badminton player to reach the men's singles semis.