Viren Rasquinha, Lakshya Sen.
Former India hockey player Rasquinha alluded to the number of fourth-place finishes for the tricolour in Paris and emphasised the importance of empathising with the athletes during such trying times.
Team India have so far logged three medals at the Paris Olympics 2023, all three bronze, coming from the shooting contingent. The count could have been more, but has not transpired into a reality as multiple athletes have missed out on the coveted Olympic medal and the podium by agonising margins.
Former India hockey player Viren Rasquinha alludes to the same and emphasised the importance of empathising with the athletes during such trying times.
“There are already 5 athletes/events where India has finished 4th #Paris2024 It is very hard on them, their families & & people who work with them 24/7. There is a time to be tough on our athletes and there is a time to be empathetic. Understanding what to do when is crucial,” Rasquinha’s post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, read.
Rasquinha’s comments come on the back of Prakash Padukone’s take on Lakshya Sen’s heartbreaking loss to Malaysian Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal playoff, which condemned the youngster to a fourth-place finish.
“I think that it’s high time that the players also take responsibility. At least for the results in this Olympics and the previous one, you cannot hold the federations and government responsible for the results. They have all done whatever they can. Ultimately the responsibility is on the players to go and deliver when it matters the most,” Padukone said.
“The players need to introspect, and not just keep asking for more from the federations. They need to ask themselves whether they are working hard enough, because all of these players have their own physios and all the facilities. I don’t think any other country, including the US, has so many facilities.” the mentor added.
“I and Vimal are not happy with the fourth position of Lakshya (Sen). He could have definitely gotten a medal. I know (Viktor) Axelsen might say that Lakshya is the next best, but that is not good enough because there was a possibility of a medal,” he continued.
“Had he lost comfortably, it would have been a different issue. But to have come this far, to have taken the lead…I know he is young, but he cannot give this as an excuse. Take the responsibility and work harder,” Padukone exclaimed.
In addition to Sen, four other athletes have registered a fourth-place finish at the quadrennial showpiece underway in Paris including shooters Manu Bhaker, who also claimed two bronze medals, Arjun Babuta, Maheshwari Chauhan, Anantjeet Naruka and archers Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat.
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