Who Is The Father Of Badminton?
A boy who once dreamed of being the number one player in badminton became more than a milestone in the sport’s history. Prakash Padukone has been nicknamed the “God of Badminton,” showing extraordinary skills knocking off opponents in his unique skills and talent in the sport in his early days. The characteristic had him earning the title of the “Father of Badminton.”
Early days
Ramesh Padukone, his father, was the secretary of the Mysore Badminton Association when Prakash was born on the 10th of June in 1955. Once he first set his foot on the Badminton court, Padukone immediately fell in love. His father was his most outstanding mentor, as he began to compete in championships at the young age of seven. Prakash Padukone learned badminton from state players at a wedding hall, where he developed his abilities.
The start of a new beginning
He continued to train until he was 16 when his training paid him off for being the youngest player in history to win the National Senior Championship. It so happened that ever since his first win, he has made an astonishing record for having nine straight wins in a row.
Padukone became the first-ever Indian to win the title at the All England Championship in 1980. As a result of his aggressive style of play, he was renowned and respected across the globe and was consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 players. It was 1989 when Padukone withdrew from the badminton circuit, and in 1994, he established the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, which has produced several national and international level badminton players. For his services to sports, he was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1982 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991.
Padukone is married to Ujjala Padukone, a former Indian badminton player, and they have two children, including Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone. He is now regarded as a badminton icon and a source of inspiration for many young sportsmen in India and throughout the world.
Today, the Father of Badminton is 65 years old, and his name still radiates to the sport’s identity. To all aspiring badminton athletes, Padukone is an ideal player—a figure worth looking up to.
