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In a surprising declaration, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has named badminton icon Prakash Padukone as the finest sportsperson India has ever produced, overlooking contemporary stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Olympic gold medalists – Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra. Gavaskar’s comments have sparked discussions among sports enthusiasts and fans alike, reigniting the debate over who truly deserves the title of India’s greatest athlete.
Sunil Gavaskar’s tribute to India’s greatest sportsperson
Speaking in a recent interview, Gavaskar praised Padukone for his exceptional achievements in badminton, highlighting not only his skill on the court but also his demeanour off it.
“In my humble opinion, and with the greatest respect to all other legends and champions from other sports, Prakash Padukone is the finest sportsperson that India has produced. It’s not just his incredible skill with which he conquered the badminton world time and again, but also his demeanour on and off the court that makes him so special in my eyes,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
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Gavaskar’s admiration for the Badminton legend
The Little Master reminisced about Padukone’s dominance during a time when the sport was highly competitive, particularly against formidable opponents from Denmark and China.
“Don’t forget he did it at a time when a point could be won only on your serve and not as it is now where it can be won on the opponent’s serve. At a time when the Danes and Chinese were unbeatable, Prakash was sending them packing, barely conceding seven to 10 points and occasionally none at all,” he added.
Gavaskar’s admiration for Padukone is rooted in the latter’s ability to excel in a sport that was not as widely recognized in India during his prime. The former cricketer noted Padukone’s impressive track record, including his historic victory at the All England Championships in 1980, which made him a trailblazer for Indian badminton.
