Days after badminton legend Prakash Padukone criticized Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen for his bronze-medal playoff loss at the Paris Olympics, his son-in-law, actor Ranveer Singh, extended a public shout-out to Sen for his commendable performance.
In an Instagram story posted earlier this week, Singh lauded Sen’s abilities and resilience. “What a player! What endurance, what agility, what range of shots, what focus, what grit, what smarts,” Singh wrote.
“Scintillating badminton on display! It’s difficult to encapsulate just how brilliant he’s been at the Olympics. Missed out narrowly in a game of extremely small margins. But he’s only 22 and he’s just getting started.”
Sen’s Olympic journey, though marked by an initial lead, ended in disappointment when he was defeated by Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match. This defeat drew sharp remarks from Prakash Padukone, who voiced his dissatisfaction with Sen’s performance.
On Monday, Padukone expressed his disappointment, stressing the need for players to introspect and push harder to secure Olympic medals.
“Maybe, you know, the players are not working hard enough. Maybe, it is not enough to get a medal at the Olympics,” Padukone remarked. He pointed out that despite the extensive support systems in place, including sports science teams, physios, trainers, and nutritionists, there is still room for players to intensify their efforts.
Padukone added, “Mistakes will happen, everybody is comfortable playing against the wind because you can play freely without any hesitation but Lakshya probably needs both. A little bit of mind training and the focus on mind training plus a little bit of practice and a little better control he needs to work on the court as well.”
The veteran badminton icon’s critique comes from a place of high expectations and a deep understanding of the sport’s demands. His comments highlight the pressures faced by athletes on the world stage and the thin line between victory and defeat.
In contrast, Ranveer Singh’s supportive message underscores the importance of recognizing effort and potential, especially in young athletes like Sen who are still early in their careers. As the badminton community reflects on these mixed responses, the focus remains on fostering growth and resilience in the sport.
