Winning tournaments more important than rankings: Prakash Padukone | Badminton News – Times of India

MUMBAI: Who after PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal? This is one question which keeps popping up time and again even as the two stalwarts keep the Indian flag flying high.
There’s no better person than Prakash Padukone to answer the query as he did on Tuesday while inaugurating the revamped coaching and playing facility at the NSCI on Tuesday.
“The kind of standards that we have, I think we would have still been happy had Saina and Sindhu were not there. Owing to their physical ability, they have achieved something unimaginable. Not easy to match for Indian girls because they are generally not blessed with kind of height and power,” said Padukone..
The 1980 All England champion, who plans to come up with a ‘Centre of Excellence’ at the club in the near future, has an unconventional suggestion to find the next big star.
“I would probably pick somebody who is very strong and not technically so sound because today’s game is more physical than technical,” he said.
Padukone also felt that players today are more interested in maintaining their rankings rather than winning tournaments and that is what is affecting their game.
“Rankings are important but today players are too concerned about them than winning. Twenty years down the line nobody would remember what your ranking was but they would certainly remember if you won the All England, World Championships or Olympic medal,” he said.
When asked about emerging star Lakshya Sen‘s chances at the Denmark Open which is starting today, Padukone said winning Denmark Open would be difficult for him. “He has done well so far and is very talented, but I don’t expect him to do well at Denmark because it would be difficult for him. He is in top 20 but that is not sufficient. Sen should take this as learning experience and give a year or two to sharpening his skills and should not feel satisfied,” said Padukone.