"Can't suddenly push the player under the bus" - Ashwini Ponnappa wants Prakash Padukone to be held 'responsible' for lack of preparation as well
The disappointment of missing out on a medal brought out some strong comments from Prakash Padukone, the legendary Indian shuttler who mentored Lakshya Sen throughout the Paris Olympics.
In his address to reporters, Padukone emphasized the need for athletes to take responsibility for their performances, particularly in the face of numerous fourth-place finishes by Indian athletes over the decades.
"After Milkha Singh in 1964 and PT Usha in the 80s, we have seen so many fourth-place finishes. I think it’s high time that players also take responsibility. At least for the results in this Olympics and the previous one, you cannot hold the federations and government responsible. They have done whatever they can. Ultimately, the responsibility is on the players to deliver when it matters the most," Padukone stated.
However, Padukone's remarks sparked a strong reaction from fellow Indian shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa. Taking to Instagram, Ponnappa expressed her disappointment with Prakash Padukone's stance, arguing that the responsibility for a player's performance should be shared by the entire team, including coaches and support staff.
"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 her 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."
Prakash Padukone's comments came on the heels of a spirited show by Lakshya Sen
For the first time since 2012, India has failed to win a medal in badminton at the Olympics.
In a gripping bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics, India's shuttler Lakshya Sen showcased remarkable resilience but ultimately fell short against Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia.
The clash, which saw Sen win the first set 21-13 before losing the next two sets 16-21 and 11-21, was a disappointing end to his campaign. Despite a spirited fightback in the third set, Sen's hopes of securing a medal were dashed, leaving him and his supporters heartbroken.