Paris Olympics 2024: Well, it looks like the historic fourth-place finish of Lakshya Sen was not enough for Prakash Padukone. He wanted more and that is why he ripped apart the Indian shuttler after the 22-year lost the bronze medal match.
Padukone mentored Lakshya throughout the Paris Olympics 2024. And under his and Vimal Kumar’s tutelage, Lakshya has improved by leaps and bounds. But still, it was not enough to evade that dreadful fourth-place finish.
It was not that Lakshya was not a better player than his opponents. It was just some mistakes and pressure that got to Sen and ultimately resulted in his demise in the tournament.
Prakash Padukone is an Indian legend and was not in a happy mood that Lakshya once again gave away his lead and lost the match. He was not only unhappy with the shuttles but also with the other athletes who crumbled under pressure situation.
‘Take Responsibility’
Padukone stated 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. 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 and 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 physios and all the facilities. I don’t think any other country, including the US, has so many facilities.”
Prais Olympics 2024: Dreadful Position
Lakshya made history when he reached the semi-final in the Paris Olympics 2024. But he was not able to clinch the medal and finished fourth. A position that every athlete dreads from the bottom of their heart.
But not only Lakshya, India has lost almost 5 medals courtesy of that fourth position. Arjun Babuta, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Ankita Bhakat, Anantjeet Singh Naruka Maheshwari Chauhan, and even Manu Bhaker finished fourth and lost that third historic medal.
While these finishes are heartbreaking all these athletes are still young. They will learn from this experience and will come back even stronger. The whole country believes that 2028 will be a better year for these athletes and our country as a whole.
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