»Players Need To Take Fall For Their Shortcomings Prakash Padukone
Players Need To Take Fall For Their Shortcomings: Prakash Padukone
Prakash Padukone expressed disappointment following Lakshya Sen's fourth-place finish in the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympics. Despite this being a historic achievement for Sen,
Prakash Padukone expressed disappointment following Lakshya Sen’s fourth-place finish in the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympics. Despite this being a historic achievement for Sen, who became the first Indian male shuttler to reach the Olympic semifinals, Padukone emphasized the need for athletes to take personal responsibility for their performances rather than attributing failures to external factors.
In his remarks to reporters, Padukone highlighted a pattern of fourth-place finishes in Indian athletics, referencing notable athletes like Milkha Singh and PT Usha. He stressed that the players must introspect and evaluate their own efforts, stating, “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”.
Padukone pointed out that Indian athletes have access to numerous facilities and support systems, urging them to work harder and not continually seek more from their federations. He remarked, “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”.
Despite the disappointment, Padukone acknowledged that the government and sports organizations had provided adequate support, making it crucial for athletes to deliver when it mattered most. He expressed particular dissatisfaction with how Sen lost the bronze match after initially leading, indicating that such missed opportunities should not be taken lightly.