Boria Majumdar in Paris
Dear Prakash Sir,
As it is for millions of Indians, you are also my hero. And I make no qualms about it. In our many interviews, I have repeatedly expressed my appreciation for you. And that won’t change. But let’s agree to disagree, Sir, on a few things you mentioned yesterday. When we were walking out together, I asked you: “What went wrong with Lakshya?” And you said something, which both G Rajaraman – India’s media attache – and I agreed was right, but I won’t mention it here.
Then, once outside and speaking to the media, you asked the player to take more responsibility. Fair point. You also said the player beats these opponents in other tournaments, but not on the Olympic stage. Again, fair point. But Sir, each time we had spoken over the past few months, and we had spoken multiple times, you told me that you are working on Sindhu and Lakshya’s mental strength. And also on their shot selection. For Lakshya, his inability to convert winning situations to victories. To quote you, “In all the three departments – mental, physical and shot selection – Sindhu is better. Lakshya too has improved a lot, and we have worked on it consistently.”
If that’s the case, it is a collective, isn’t it, Sir? Lakshya is your student, and you and Vimal Kumar have collectively worked on him. When he beat Jonatan Christie, we all gave you credit. And rightly so. When he beat Chou Tien-chen, we again celebrated you and Vimal. We celebrated Team Lakshya. So, when he loses in the all-important bronze medal play-off, why is it that he alone needs to take responsibility? Why not you? Why not Vimal? Why not the entire team? Yes, he was playing, but you were all helping him strategically, weren’t you?
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Lakshya is 22 years old and was not even expected to make the cut. He did. No one fancied him to make the semi-finals. He did. He is ranked 22 in the world, and beat three higher-ranked opponents. Punched above his weight. There is zero doubt that Lakshya should have taken his chances. One game up and 8-3 up, he should have closed out the match. But then, from the sidelines, it was you and Vimal who were guiding him, wasn’t it, Sir? You were seeing things he couldn’t. You were telling him things that he needed to do.
At this level, coaches aren’t there to teach someone badminton. Rather, you were there because you could spot things Lakshya couldn’t once he was caught up in the contest. So, isn’t this as much a failure of the collective?
My point is fairly simple. We are a country starved of champions. That’s the truth. We are trying to get better. We have started to invest money. But to say that just because these players need to win an Olympic medal because they’re well paid and taken care of just doesn’t add up. The money spent on Lakshya has also been spent on his support team. On his coaches. On giving him every kind of support for the Olympics. And that support team also includes you, Prakash Sir.
This is my humble suggestion and request to you, Sir. You are a role model and a legend. We need you to stand by the athletes. At a time when things are boiling over and people who hardly follow Olympic sports have suddenly become experts, legends like you need to put things into perspective. Tell people how hard it is, and how Lakshya can get better. And he will, because he has you by his side. We will then start to believe again, Prakash Sir. But if you say things to the contrary, we will start to lose faith. Start to give up. Feel that this is not worth it. And for Olympic sport to lose out in India is very easy. The next cricket tournament, and the Olympics is forgotten.
On November 19, 2023, Rahul Dravid did not say that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli do it in a bilateral series but fail in World Cups. Rather, he said the team had given it their all. The next World Cup that came around, India went won. Rohit had asked him to stay on.
When India were all out for 36 against Australia in Adelaide, Ravi Shastri, then the coach, told the players to wear it as a badge of honour, to remind themselves that they could only get better. The key word here is “WE”. India went on to win the series, and make history.
Sport always gives you another opportunity, and no one knows that better than you. Lakshya will only improve and take the next steps if there’s a team behind him. And that’s Team India. It is a collective. Always will be. With regards and respect, Boria.
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