'I haven't received 1.5 cr', says Ashwini Ponnappa amid debate over shuttlers performance at Paris Olympics 2024
The debate triggered by Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone over India's performance at the Paris Olympics 2024 is refusing to die down. Shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa, who was one of the only people to come to Lakshya Sen's defence, has now rejected reports that she received ?1.5 crore from the TOPS scheme, a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to provide financial support to athletes.
What?Ashwini Ponnappa said
"How can an article be written without getting facts right? How can this lie be written? Received ?1.5 crore each? From whom? For what? I haven't received this money. I was not even part of any organisation or TOPS for funding," she wrote on X.
Funding controversy?
She was responding to a report that claimed, "Ashwini and Tanisha, who received ?1.5 crore each in support, exited the tournament after failing to win any match in the group stage."
Ashwini Ponnappa vs?Prakash Padukone
Earlier, responding to Padukone's criticism, Ponnappa said that it was unfair to publicly criticize the players.
"Disappointing to see this. If a player wins, everyone jumps on the bandwagon to take credit, and if they lose, it's just the player's fault?! Why aren't coaches held responsible for lack of preparation and getting the player ready? They are the first ones to take credit for wins; why not take responsibility for their players' losses as well? At the end of the day, winning takes team effort, and losing is also the team's responsibility. You can't suddenly push the player under the bus and blame it all on the player," Ponnappa had written in an Instagram story.
Also read:?Lakshya Sen's stunning 'behind-the-back¡¯ shot gets rave reviews
India's poor show at Paris Olympics
India went to the Paris Olympics 2024 with high hopes from the badminton court. The entire country expected star shuttler PV Sindhu, who was eyeing her hat-trick to win a medal. HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen were also among the medal prospects in men's badminton. But none of them could live up to the expectations, and the team returned empty-handed from the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
Prakash Padukone hits out at badminton team?
This did not go down well with Padukone, a former World No. 1, who said that it's high time players learn to withstand pressure, become accountable, and start delivering results after receiving support.
Even cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar sided with Padukone, saying, "Making excuses is where our country will win gold medals every single time."
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