Prakash Padukone awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by BAI
Prakash Padukone was awarded the Badminton Association of India’s first Lifetime Achievement award on Monday at a function in New Delhi by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. He was previously awarded the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri in 1972 and 1982 respectively by the Government of India.
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.
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