Culture & Entertainment · India Bureau
India's badminton showing at Asian Games fell short, says Padukone
Legendary badminton coach Prakash Padukone has criticized India's performance at the recent Asian Games, saying the country's shuttlers underperformed given the talent at their disposal. The Indian contingent secured only a team bronze medal, with individual players failing to advance beyond the quarterfinal stage.
LSN India ·
Padukone, the renowned 1980 All England champion and former national coach, described India's badminton performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as "a little disappointing," stating the team should have matched or surpassed their previous medal haul.
The Indian badminton squad's medal tally comprised solely of a team bronze, a result Padukone felt reflected poorly on the depth of talent available in the country. None of the Indian shuttlers progressed beyond the quarterfinal stage in individual events, leaving the contingent without medals in those categories.
"I think we had done much better last time," Padukone told reporters. "Considering the kind of talent we have, we should have done much better. Even I was expecting at least, if not better, but at least equal the last time's performance."
Padukone made his remarks during an event where his badminton academy signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Institute of Sports Management (IISM), headed by former Indian cricketer Nilesh Kulkarni. The comments underscore growing concerns about India's competitive standing in badminton on the continental stage.