India's Lakshya Sen bowed out of the Paris Olympics 2024, after emerging second-best to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match. After winning the first set by 21-13, he went down 2-1 to lose the next two sets and also missed out on the historic Olympic medal.
India's Lakshya Sen became the first male shuttler to reach the quarter-finals at the Olympic games. Moreover, he also played in the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics.
However, Sen remained the only semi-finalist to not secure a medal in Paris. The 22-year-old was first beaten by Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the semi-finals, and later by Lee Zii Jia in the fight for the bronze medal.
Sen created history for team India at the Olympics by becoming the first-ever male shuttler to reach the quarter-finals of the men's singles event. However, the fairytale story did not see a happy ending for the Indian youngster at the Paris Olympics.
The Olympics debutant was coached by Indian stalwart, and badminton legend, Prakash Padukone. After Sen was beaten in the bronze medal match, the former World No. 1 slammed Indian shuttlers for their failure at the Paris Olympics 2024.
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What did Prakash Padukone say about Indian players on not winning a medal at Paris Olympics 2024?
Lakshya Sen's coach and legendary Indian shuttler Prakash Padukone addressed the media after his loss to the Malaysian shuttler in the bronze medal match. Padukone slammed the Indian shuttlers for their fiasco at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Speaking to reporters, the 69-year-old said,
I think its high time that the players also need to take responsibility. At least for the last (Tokyo) and this (Paris) Olympics, you cannot hold the federations or the government responsible, for the good, decent, or not-so-good performances - whatever you call it, a frustrated Prakash Padukone stated.
The federations, academies have done everything. We can only do so much. We can provide everything. But ultimately, the players have to take responsibility and go and deliver when it matters the most, he added.
MORE: Lakshya Sen misses out on historic Olympic medal
Lakshya Sen held a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over Zii Jia ahead of the bronze medal match. Not only that, Sen also beat Jia earlier this year.
They have beaten the same players in other tournaments. But when it comes to Olympics, we are not able to. The players need to introspect, you cannot keep asking for more and more, he stated.
Maybe the players are not working hard enough to get a medal at the Olympics. Each player has their own physios, S&C coaches, nutritionists. How much more can you do! I don't think any other country, including the USA would have such facilities. Let us all be frank, Padukone concluded.
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