Ashwini Ponnappa remarks made by Prakash Padukone after Lakshya Sen lost to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal play-off at the Paris Olympics, have divided the badminton community.
Different reactions resulted from Sen’s loss despite a good beginning.
Padukone, an esteemed figure in Indian badminton, expressed sadness as he blamed Sen for his defeat. In this regard, he claimed that players should be able to cope with pressure and take responsibility for their mistakes when they are supposed to deliver.His observations came after Sen failed to bag a medal during which he was beaten 21-13, 16-21, 11-21 by Lee Zii Jia.
The response from doubles player Ashwini Ponnappa has been highly critical of Padukone. The criticism made by Padukone did not include any mention of his comments being directed only towards the two players.
“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 an Instagram story.
“Why aren’t coaches held responsible for lack of preparation and getting the player ready? They are always quick to celebrate a win; why can’t they accept defeat as well?
“At the end of the day you win as a team and lose as a team too. You cannot all of sudden throw away your players under busses and say that is all on you,” said Gutta.
Padukone conveyed strong messages to Indian Olympians like Sen through his words: He recommended that there should not be one top person but many others who would follow him/her.
“We cannot remain satisfied just having one player. We need focus on few more lines may be even third line,” Padukone had said.
“And a little bit of effort from the players also. A little more responsibility, a little more accountability. Do not just ask for whatever you want to ask for. Once given, you also have to be accountable. I think the players have to learn to take responsibility.”
Though Ponnappa disagreed with Padukone’s position, women’s doubles player Jwala Gutta, who had previously won a world championship bronze with her, seemed to support the idea of player accountability.
“Yes, players can also take responsibilities…why not?” she shared in an Instagram post.
“Players when they win get all the riches… do they share it with their coach or staff? A coach should say after some point of time players should take responsibilities as well,” Gutta said.
Not with standing criticism expressed by Star badminton couple Parupalli Kashyap and Saina Nehwal argued that one could not doubt the commitment of these athletes.
“There will be a lot of tough questions ask of our Indian Olympic contingent, and rightfully so, once the games are over in a few days’ time. We again failed where it mattered most. We have flattered to deceive yet again,” read an Instagram post by Saina and Kashyap.
The duo conceded that “not too many fingers” can be point at the National Sports Federations right now.
“… especially if you look at the high-profile sports like shooting, badminton and boxing,” they said.
It is alright to question and criticize, but criticizing the commitment of all athletes representing our country’s 117 contestants should never be a question. Their journey into the Olympics has been fill with blood, sweat and tears by everyone.
