Legendary badminton player Prakash Padukone feels that Indian players need to be physically and mentally strong if they want to win an Olympic medal.
“The reason Saina and Sindhu have won Olympic medals is because they are both physically strong and mentally tough. It’s not only about talent. You need both these qualities to succeed at the highest level,” Padukone, a former World No. 1 badminton player, told The Goan.
This is not just for badminton, but for other sports as well. In the past, there have been several instances of Indian players faltering at the last hurdle or snatching defeat from the jaws of victory or finishing fourth thereby missing out on an Olympic medal mainly because they were not mentally strong.
“In some players, mental ability is in-born talent. But, you need to develop and improve your mental strength with the help of sports psychologists,” said Padukone who was in Goa to announce a strategic collaboration between Goa Badminton Association (GBA) and Padukone School of Badminton (PSB).
In 2012, Saina Nehwal became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal when she won a bronze during London Olympics.
P V Sindhu went one step further by winning silver during 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze during 2020 Tokyo Games.
During 2024 Paris Olympics, Lakshya Sen could have created history by becoming the first Indian male badminton player to win an Olympic medal.
But he faltered in the bronze-medal match, in spite winning the first set and leading in the second set to eventually lose 13-21, 21-16, 21-11 to Lee Zii Jia from Malaysia, a player whom he had 3-1 win-loss record prior to that match.
Despite outclassing his opponent in the first game, Sen conceded eight straight points to lose the second game. He couldn’t mentally recover in the third game and the Malaysian dictated the rallies in the decider to clinch the bronze medal.
“Had Lakshya been mentally strong, he could have easily won the match,” Padukone said.
