Courtesy: Wikipedia, ESPN
Prakash Padukone, a legendary Indian badminton player, tested positive for COVID-19 and is recovering in a hospital in Bengaluru. The father of famous Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, is a true legend in the Indian sporting fraternity. He was considered among the best shuttlers not just in India but across the world during the 1970s and 1980s.
“Around 10 days back, Prakash, his wife (Ujjala) and second daughter (Anisha), they developed symptoms and got themselves tested and the results came out to be positive,” Vimal Kumar, a close friend of the legendary shuttler and director at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA), told PTI.
“They got themselves isolated but after a week Prakash’s fever didn’t come down, so last Saturday, he was admitted to a hospital here in Bengaluru.”
“He is okay now. All his parameters are fine, his wife and daughter are at home and he too will be hopefully discharged in 2-3 days,” he added.
The 65-year-old, who became the first Indian to win the All England Championships in 1980, is expected to be released later this week. Padukone was also the first Indian to win a medal at the World Championships after clinching a bronze in the 1983 edition.
Padukone bid adieu to the game in 1991 and became the chairman of the Badminton Association of India (BAI). He also took up coaching and mentored the Indian National Badminton team from 1993 to 1996.