INDIA - Padukone upset about Indian domestic circuit

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Prakash Padukone worried about state of Indian badminton, contemplates life beyond it.

Dev S Sukumar / DNA. Bangalore
India’s greatest badminton player Prakash Padukone last week questioned the Badminton Association of India’s regulation that all national senior ranking tournaments should have minimum prize money of Rs 5 lakh. Speaking to DNA, a worried Padukone touched upon several issues that have been on his mind, including the reluctance of senior international players to participate in domestic tournaments, the general lack of direction in the BAI, and his contemplation of life beyond badminton.

“There have been just two senior ranking tournaments this year, apart from the national championships," an unsually animated Padukone said. "Both ranking tournaments were organised by us (Padukone Sports Management). That means that without us, there won’t be any tournaments at all through the year.

“The BAI has to take responsibility. There is a lot of talent. But if the trend continues of not having domestic tournaments, the top players are not having to earn their place in the Indian team. You’re not helping them reach their potential, because they’ll take their places for granted. The second rung of players are unable to show their potential. There’s absolutely no excuse (for the BAI). It shows a lack of will and lack of planning. You have to create the next line of players. The whole system is flawed. What had happened in the 1980s is repeating again.”

Padukone questioned the BAI’s rationale of fixing a minimum prize money of Rs 5 lakh for every senior ranking tournament. With the total cost of sponsoring a tournament going up to around Rs 10 lakh, and with Indian internationals not guaranteeing their participation, Padukone said the situation would hurt sponsorship. “The BWF itself conducts 5,000 USD to 250,000 USD events. So why in India do you want to have only Rs 5 lakh tournaments? Why not have Rs 1 lakh prize money tournaments as well? And the BAI does not even ensure the participation of top players, so why will the sponsors remain interested in badminton? The BAI should make it mandatory for players to take part in domestic events if they have to be sent for international events.”

Padukone also questioned the BAI’s obsession with peripheral issues instead of concentrating on developing the game. “Everybody is doing everything else – things that are absolutely unrelated to badminton. They’re concerned about whether the player’s T-shirt carries his name, whether doubles players are wearing the same colour of T-shirt. I would call all these petty things. You need to be thinking about larger issues. This won’t take the game to next level. They need to be thinking new ideas, new formats, tying up with potential sponsors, TV channels, maybe a Grand Prix circuit within the country… so much that can be done.”

Padukone said he was already thinking of life beyond badminton. “I’m worried and upset. I’ve done whatever I could for Indian badminton. I’m cutting down on my badminton activities gradually. For now, I’m looking at the Commonwealth Games. After that, I want to explore other things, like finance. I want to take more vacations, spend more time with family. I’ve done enough. I want to spend time with [actress-daughter] Deepika. She needs help on financial matters. All that will need time. I won’t have enough time for badminton on a day-to-day basis. As far as the Academy is concerned, new ideas should come in. I will continue to be involved, but not on a full-time basis like now.”

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