Prakash Padukone awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by BAI

Prakash Padukone who is also the co-founder of Olympic Golden Quest - a foundation dedicated to the promotion of Olympic sports in India was handed a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. The award function was attended by his wife Ujjala Padukone and his two daughters Deepika Padukone and Anisha Padukone.

The 62-year-old has always been humble and on receiving the award said, “Don't say what badminton can give you, instead ask what you can do for badminton," reported PTI

“I did not play for money, rewards or recognition. I played for the love of the game."

Prakash Padukone was the first Indian player to be ranked number one in the men’s singles event in 1980. He won the gold medal at the World Cup in 1981, the prestigious All England Championship in 1981, and the Edmonton Commonwealth Games in 1978.

“Mr. Padukone, you have been a trendsetter and path-breaker in Indian sport in many ways. You were the first Indian to conquer the world, beating many legends on your way to the top. You, of course, not only overwhelmed each of them on the court but also won them over off it,” BAI president Hemanta Biswa added.