‘I need a break’

Padukone’s revolt in 1997 was a simple case of a top badminton player refusing to accept the way the sport is run in the country. And, though the initial success prompted the BAI to seek a rapprochement, he appears drained by the strain. ‘‘I cannot do it alone. I think the state associations should take up more responsibility.’’ His Prakash Padukone Badminton Association (PPBA) is also not working as well as the initial signs promised. ‘‘The players are probably feeling stagnant,’’ Padukone suggests. ‘‘Besides, a lot of good centres of the Sports Authority of India have come up in places like Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad. It’s fair if the players want to try all the options and experiment.’’ There is of course no chance of a return to BAI either, of which he was president at the time of the rebellion. He thinks so too, saying, ‘‘I certainyl don’t fancy myself going back’’, but what exactly he could do now is not clear.

And he certainly doesn’t know for sure either. As for pushing for reforms within the BAI, Padukone’s is a similar, ‘‘I don’t want to do that’’ answer.