Padukone urges India's top shuttlers to find greater consistency

Prakash Padukone said in Mumbai on Thursday, October 8, 2026, that India’s solitary bronze at the Asian Games should be treated as a disappointment and called for greater consistency from the country’s leading shuttlers.

Padukone told reporters that the team’s return from the Asian Games fell short of expectations. “It was a little disappointing. We should have done much better,” he said, adding: “Considering the kind of talent we have, we should have done much better. Even I was expecting, if not better, to at least equal last time’s medal tally.” He also stopped short of reading too much into the tournament results while stressing the need for steadier performances.

On the challenge of maintaining form across the season, Padukone pointed to the demands of year-round competition and called for improved consistency from established players. “They play throughout the year, so it’s extremely difficult to be on top all the time. But I would definitely like the players to be more consistent. And it is possible. It is not due to lack of support — they have a lot of support. They need to put in a little more effort.”

Padukone was in Mumbai to announce a collaboration between the Padukone School of Badminton and the International Institute of Sports Management.

He expressed optimism about India’s singles prospects, citing the emergence of Ayush Shetty in the men’s section and naming Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma among the promising women’s players. “Singles has always been our strength and that will continue,” he said, while acknowledging that replacing established doubles combinations could be more difficult.

Padukone singled out P.V. Sindhu as an example of sustained drive, pointing to her Japan Open triumph as evidence she remains motivated despite an extensive medal collection. “She is 31 now, she has won so many medals, she can easily rest on her laurels and be happy. But she still wants to push.”

He advised a more selective annual schedule for players, recommending they identify four or five important tournaments each year and aim to peak at those events while avoiding first-round exits at others.