Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Padukone Calls India’s Asian Games Badminton Showing Disappointing
India’s badminton team won one bronze medal at the Asian Games.
Former coach Prakash Padukone said he hoped the team would do better.
He believes Indian players have the talent and support to win more.
He wants them to perform well more regularly, not just at one tournament.
He suggested choosing a few important tournaments each year and preparing especially well for them.
Padukone praised PV Sindhu for continuing to work toward big wins.
He also said the new, shorter scoring format may make matches harder.
Players may need to play more aggressively, but he said it is too soon to know exactly how the change will affect them.
India won only a team bronze in badminton at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Prakash Padukone said the result fell short of expectations given the talent available and the previous medal tally.
He urged players to be more consistent and suggested targeting four or five key tournaments each season.
Padukone praised PV Sindhu’s continued ambition and said other players, including Lakshya Sen and doubles pairs, should emulate it.
He said the planned 15-point, best-of-three scoring format could require players to adopt a more aggressive style.
- Who
- Former national coach Prakash Padukone commented on India’s badminton players, including PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen.
- What
- Padukone called India’s Asian Games badminton performance disappointing and urged greater consistency.
- When
- The comments were reported on October 8; the scoring change is planned for next year.
- Where
- The Asian Games badminton event was held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan; Padukone made his comments in Mumbai.
- Why
- India won only a team bronze, which Padukone said was below expectations given the talent and support available.
- India’s badminton result
- One team bronze at the Asian Games
- Location of the Games
- Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
- Padukone’s assessment
- He described the performance as “a little disappointing.”
- Tournament planning advice
- Choose four or five important tournaments each year and aim to peak for them.
- Player cited as an example
- PV Sindhu, praised for remaining hungry to win.
- Planned scoring format
- 15-point, best-of-three games, starting next year according to Padukone.