Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone criticized the national team's performance at the Paris Olympics 2024, particularly after Lakshya Sen's loss in the men's singles bronze medal match. Padukone's comments, calling for players to take responsibility for their performances, were met with both criticism and support. Sunil Gavaskar defended Padukone, arguing that the culture of making excuses in India detracts from accountability. Gavaskar emphasized that athletes receive substantial support from the government and federations, thus they must be held accountable for their results. Despite backlash from some athletes, Gavaskar reiterated Padukone's point that public criticism can have a greater impact than private rebukes.