As the Paris 2024 Olympics draw near, India’s badminton contingent is preparing with high hopes. Badminton legend Prakash Padukone, who is in Paris to fine-tune the games of top medal prospects PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, believes India has a strong chance of clinching medals across multiple events. 

Padukone, a former World No. 1 and Commonwealth Games champion, shared his optimism in an exclusive interview with Jio Cinema.

“We have a chance in all three events: men’s singles, women’s singles, and men’s doubles,” Padukone asserted, highlighting the potential of India’s badminton squad. This confidence stems from the presence of some seasoned players and promising young talents who have shown remarkable consistency and skill on the international stage.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who will spearhead India’s campaign, has been under the meticulous guidance of Padukone. Despite not being in peak form recently, Sindhu’s track record in major tournaments makes her a formidable contender. Padukone acknowledged the challenges but also the opportunities ahead for Sindhu.

“Definitely, Sindhu has not been at her best recently; this might reduce the pressure on her. Expectations are lower, and even reaching the quarterfinals will be seen positively. But I am looking beyond that,” Padukone remarked. “If she is able to reproduce the form she’s showing in practice, I think she’ll do better than in past tournaments.”

Sindhu’s mental fortitude and experience, having won silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, are crucial assets. “The difference at the top is so little, and it is also about handling pressure in the Olympics, and Sindhu has an advantage as she has won two Olympic medals. We keep reminding her to focus on her game, and the end result will be good,” Padukone added.

The men’s doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, currently ranked World No. 3, are among the top medal hopefuls. Their consistent performance on the international circuit has earned them praise from Padukone. “The men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have been very consistent and have beaten top players. They also have a fairly good draw,” he noted.

Lakshya Sen, the 22-year-old Commonwealth Games 2022 gold medallist, faces a challenging path in his debut Olympics. Padukone urged Sen to remain calm and treat the Olympics like any other tournament. “Lakshya Sen has a tough group, but he has previously beaten his group opponents, Jonatan Christie, Kevin Cordón, and Julien Carraggi. It depends on his current form. It’s his first Olympics, but he shouldn’t be worrying about that and consider this as any other tournament.”

HS Prannoy, currently ranked World No. 13, is another strong contender despite not being in top form recently. Padukone sees potential in Prannoy, stating, “HS Prannoy has not been in the best form, but sometimes it could be a blessing in disguise as there is little weight of expectations and you might reach the peak now, it can go both ways.”

The relatively inexperienced women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto face a tough draw but are eager to make the most of their opportunity. “Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto in women’s doubles have a challenging draw, but if they can qualify further, that will be icing on the cake,” Padukone commented.

Padukone emphasized the importance of mental training and strategic preparation for Sindhu and the entire contingent. “I am focusing on tactics and strategy on the court, on what strokes to use when, and a little to do with the mind. About nine months ago, Sindhu was a little low on confidence due to frequent coaching changes and not being able to identify what was going wrong. We’ve worked on her mental strength and strategy, ensuring she makes better use of the right strokes. We’ve tried to cut down on mistakes and play percentage badminton — knowing when to attack, defend, and play safe. So it is finally all coming through, but it remains to be seen if she can reproduce that form during the Olympics.”

As India’s badminton stars gear up for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the guidance and insights from a legend like Prakash Padukone could prove invaluable. With hopes high and preparations in full swing, the Indian badminton contingent is poised to make a significant impact on the global stage.