There is always scope for improvement

New Delhi, January 31: Badminton champion, Prakash Padukone said that the game is his passion. I played purely for the love of the game, without expecting anything in return.

"It is not the time to sit on laurels. There is always scope for improvement. BAI along with the state associations need to work pro-actively to encourage the abundance of talent that is available especially in smaller towns and cities," said Padukone, who was conferred with the lifetime achievement award by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

Asked how the game has changed, Padukone said "It has become more physical but it has happened for all sports but only for badminton. It has also become technical and you have to take the help of a lot of nutrition, physios, trainers.

"These days to reach the top it is not good enough to be just be good in your sport, you have been mentally and physically fit, you have to recover in time, so many other factors. So it is important to build a good team, you need the support of lot of people to stay on the top."

Former Badminton champion Prakash Padukone had been conferred the Badminton Association of India's 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on Monday. The 62-yr old was ranked World No 1 in 1980 and had been the first Indian to win the All England Open Badminton Championships.