A historic and groundbreaking fourth place finish? Not what the great Prakash Padukone wanted. But, it is what him and all of the Indian contingent were handed as Lakshya Sen fell in the Bronze Medal match at the Paris Olympics on Monday.
Padukone, who mentored Sen throughout the Olympics, took to reporters to expound on the need for athletes to take the fall for their shrotcomings, especially in a fourth place finish, and to not blame their federations for negligence.
“After Milkha Singh in 64′ and PT Usha in the 80s, we have so many fourth place finishes. I think that it’s high time that the players also take responsibility. Atleast 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,” Padukone stated in talks with reporters after Sen’s loss in the Bronze medal match.
Padukone stated that it was in fact on the players, at this point, to introspect, and find the way to win, rather than demand the federations to do more for them.
“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.”
What frustrated the former badminton great furthermore was the heartbreaking loss that India’s Lakshya Sen endured earlier.
Sen, who had made history by becoming the first male badminton player to ever make it to the semifinal in the Olympics, was in prime position to seal a medal finish.
With one opponent standing between Sen and a Bronze medal, the youngster would unfortunately fall in the last step to Malaysia’s Zii Jia Lee and lose out on the opportunity to clinch a medal.
Padukone further expounded on his disappointment and frustration with Sen’s loss, stating that the 22-year-old needed to take responsibilty for the loss, recalirate and come back stronger.
“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.”
“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,” exclaimed a spirited Padukone.
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