The gentle giant of Indian badminton, Prakash Padukone, turned 60 on June 10. It was an important milestone for Padukone, who feels that he needs to move on after a satisfying journey and take life a little easy while keeping his feet firmly rooted in badminton. The game that he loved has made a quantum leap in the country. He was the main catalyst for it, though, after his epochal victory at the All-England Championships in 1980.
He became the first Indian player to become world number one that year and a tide of international titles – World Cup, World Grand Prix, Danish and Swedish Opens, Commonwealth Games gold – soon adorned his mantlepiece over a decade of international supremacy. That phase also saw him train in Denmark with another of the game’s greats, Morten Frost.
After his retirement in 1989, Padukone set up India’s first privately-managed badminton academy, the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, which churned out champions by the dozens. Padukone realized his long-held ambition of producing a world number one when Saina Nehwal became Numero Uno under his guidance. Padukone’s 'touch' was felt in the Badminton Association of India too as the game’s national administrators were pushed and prodded by him to become more transparent and player-friendly. On the family front, the Padukones – Prakash, his wife Ujjala, and daughters Deepika and Anisha – make for a perfect picture.
Deepika is now a Bollywood superstar and Anisha a golfer. Prakash is quite proud of his daughters and enjoys watching Deepika’s films. He visits her in Mumbai whenever he can. As the years roll by, Padukone’s magic spell on the game seems to linger on and on. In a chat , Padukone reflects on turning 60 and on the game.
The excerpts:
You have not slowed down a bit since I met you the first time three decades ago. What is the secret to sustaining this energy and enthusiasm for life and the game?
I have been associated with badminton since the age of seven in some capacity or the other. I'm fully satisfied with whatever I have achieved in this field as a player, coach and administrator. I have always loved the sport and that is what keeps me going. In recent years, sometimes, I feel that I should slow down and enjoy life in other areas, but the love for the sport keeps bringing me back to it.
Did you ever think at the outset of your career that you were going to be the catalyst for a major surge in badminton in the country?
I never thought that I would be able to play such a major role in transforming badminton in the country. It just happened over a periodof time. One event led to another and things have now reached the present level. I am delighted that the game is growing fast and moving in the right direction.
The best moment and the biggest disappointment of your playing career?
Winning the All England Championship in 1980 was the most satisfying moment of my career and my loss to Syed Modi in the 1981. Nationals was the most disappointing phase. On the whole, I have no regrets at all for I have performed to the best of my ability and to my full potential.
We know of your struggle in establishing the country's premier badminton academy, PPBA. Are you satisfied with its role in producing some of the best players in the country?
The journey of Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy has been extremely satisfying. It was not easy to get sponsors in the early nineties when the game was at its lowest ebb. That was when BPL believed in us and supported us for almost 12 years beginning from 1994. Right now, our focus is on juniors and we are lucky to have some very talented youngsters who have the potential of doing well internationally in the next five years.
Indian players like Saina Nehwal, P. Kashyap, K. Srikanth and P.V. Sindhu have now become world-beaters. What do you attribute this phenomenal rise to?
Most of the Indian players have now started believing in themselves and are no longer afraid of the Chinese. One of the major reasons for this resurgence is the financial support received from the Sports Ministry for conducting camps and exposure trips. Participating in international tournaments regularly has given confidence to our players that they can also be world beaters.
You have always said that players should never rest on their laurels but keep trying for bigger things. Is it possible for anyone to have an unrelenting quest for perfection?
Saina Nehwal is a perfect example of an unrelenting quest for perfection and the hunger to win more titles. She is not satisfied with what she has achieved and wants to do more. She is a perfect role model for all the other Indian sportspersons.
Is there anything you would love to do in your coming years, apart from badminton?
I feel I have done enough for Indian badminton and I would now like to take it easy. I would like to enjoy life in other fields as well, but I will continue to be associated with the sport through my Academy and through Padukone Sports Management which is into popularizing the sport at all levels.
Lastly, how did you celebrate your 60th birthday?
We had a small gathering last week and had a small religious function to mark the occasion.
It was nice to meet some old acquaintances after a very long gap and remember the good old times. It has been a very satisfying journey for me so far.
