"Think We Have Truly Arrived": Prakash Padukone On India's Thomas Cup Win

Indian team's historic Thomas Cup victory will make it a "badminton superpower" as it has well and truly arrived on world stage with an achievement, which is way bigger than any individual accomplishment, feels legendary Prakash Padukone. India on Sunday dethroned defending champions and 14-time winners Indonesia with a commanding 3-0 win in the summit clash of the Thomas Cup Final to script a historic win.

"I didn't expect this to happen so early, not at least in the next 8-10 years. I think we have truly arrived and India will be considered a superpower and a threat from now on. It will give a big fillip to the sport," Padukone, India's first All England Champion in 1980, told PTI during an exclusive interaction.

Padukone has no doubt that this Indian badminton's watershed moment and there is a need to capitalise and build on this stupendous success.

"It was a complete team effort and a convincing win and a momentous occasion. I think it is equally great or perhaps greater than the Individual success. We needed this and I think our moment has truly arrived. Now there is no looking back and its time to capitalise on it." Padukone, who had led India to the semi-finals in 1979 edition of Thomas Cup, feels this win will have a great impact on the sport in the country and as a nation, it is paramount that we don't let the momentum slip.

"It will make it more popular, trigger more growth in the sport, more youngsters will be taking it up, more corporate and government support will come and overall the standard should improve and the trend should show an upward graph," he said.

For the touch artist of yesteryears, the next decade will be very important in order to carry the momentum.

"The onus will be on federations and also