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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Applause for Cricket, Silence for Badminton

Mumbai: When Lakshya Sen walked off the court after the final of the All England Badminton Championships, he carried with him the disappointment of another near miss. The Indian shuttler went down in straight games to Lin Chun-Yi, who created history by becoming the first player from Chinese Taipei to lift the prestigious title. But the story of Lakshya Sen’s defeat is not merely about badminton final. It is also about the contrasting way India celebrates its sporting heroes. Had the same...

Applause for Cricket, Silence for Badminton

Mumbai: When Lakshya Sen walked off the court after the final of the All England Badminton Championships, he carried with him the disappointment of another near miss. The Indian shuttler went down in straight games to Lin Chun-Yi, who created history by becoming the first player from Chinese Taipei to lift the prestigious title. But the story of Lakshya Sen’s defeat is not merely about badminton final. It is also about the contrasting way India celebrates its sporting heroes. Had the same narrative unfolded on a cricket field, the reaction would have been dramatically different. In cricket, even defeat often becomes a story of heroism. A hard-fought loss by the Indian team can dominate television debates, fill newspaper columns and trend across social media for days. A player who narrowly misses a milestone is still hailed for his fighting spirit. The nation rallies around its cricketers not only in victory but also in defeat. The narrative quickly shifts from the result to the effort -- the resilience shown, the fight put up, the promise of future triumph. This emotional investment is one of the reasons cricket enjoys unparalleled popularity in India. It has built a culture where players become household names and their performances, good or bad, become part of the national conversation. Badminton Fights Contrast that with what happens in sports like badminton. Reaching the final of the All England Championships is a monumental achievement. The tournament is widely considered badminton’s equivalent of Wimbledon in prestige and tradition. Only the very best players manage to reach its final stages, and doing it twice speaks volumes about Lakshya Sen’s ability and consistency. Yet the reaction in India remained largely subdued. There were congratulatory posts, some headlines acknowledging the effort and brief discussions among badminton enthusiasts. But the level of national engagement never quite matched the magnitude of the achievement. In a cricketing context, reaching such a stage would have triggered days of celebration and analysis. In badminton, it often becomes just another sports update. Long Wait India’s wait for an All England champion continues. The last Indian to win the title was Pullela Gopichand in 2001. Before him, Prakash Padukone had scripted history in 1980. These victories remain among the most significant milestones in Indian badminton. And yet, unlike cricketing triumphs that are frequently revisited and celebrated, such achievements rarely stay in the mainstream sporting conversation for long. Lakshya Sen’s journey to the final should ideally have been viewed as a continuation of that legacy, a reminder that India still possesses the talent to challenge the world’s best in badminton. Instead, it risks fading quickly from public memory. Visibility Gap The difference ultimately comes down to visibility and cultural investment. Cricket in India is not merely a sport; it is an ecosystem built over decades through media attention, sponsorship, and mass emotional attachment. Individual sports, on the other hand, often rely on momentary bursts of recognition, usually during Olympic years or when a medal is won. But consistent performers like Lakshya Sen rarely receive the sustained spotlight that their achievements deserve. This disparity can also influence the next generation. Young athletes are naturally drawn to sports where success brings recognition, financial stability and national fame. When one sport monopolises the spotlight, others struggle to build similar appeal. Beyond Result Lakshya Sen may have finished runner-up again, but his performance at the All England Championship is a reminder that India continues to produce world-class athletes in disciplines beyond cricket. The real issue is not that cricket receives immense attention -- it deserves the admiration it gets. The concern is that athletes from other sports often do not receive comparable appreciation for achievements that are equally significant in their own arenas. If India aspires to become a truly global sporting nation, its applause must grow broader. Sporting pride cannot remain confined to one field. Because somewhere on a badminton court, an athlete like Lakshya Sen is fighting just as hard for the country’s colours as any cricketer on a packed stadium pitch. The only difference is how loudly the nation chooses to cheer.

A Passionate Quest to Empower Orphaned Children

Updated: Dec 2, 2024

Orphaned

It feels like the plot of an inspiring film, but it is my reality. My wife Sangeeta and I have become the parents of 55 children at Majha Ghar, a shelter home we established near Budhoda village in Latur district. In a time when joint families are a rare sight, we have dedicated ourselves to a mission far beyond simply offering academic education. Our goal is to empower orphaned and underprivileged children, helping them become self-sufficient, confident individuals who can navigate life on their own terms.


Born in Wadgaon, a small village in Nilanga tehsil, I grew up in a family of eight, with my father as a farmer. While he hoped I would follow in his footsteps, my passion for education led me down a different path. A turning point came when I heard farmer leader Sharad Joshi speak.


His words not only revealed the struggles of farmers but also inspired me to pursue education as a way to change my future. Against my father’s wishes, I moved to Latur to continue my studies, taking on various jobs. I volunteered to teach children in local slums, growing my class from a handful to over 65 students with the help of biscuits and chocolates. My involvement in local journalism and civic matters deepened my commitment to social issues.


However, political and economic challenges led me to Pune, where I found success in the vegetable supply business, paying off my debts and earning a steady Rs 2 lakh per month. Despite the financial stability, I felt unfulfilled, craving a deeper sense of purpose.


Realizing my true calling was in social work, I left my business behind and, soon after, encountered a group of underprivileged children whose plight ignited a vision to not only educate but also equip them with life skills. I shared this with Sangeeta, and together we began our mission. Our first step was in Vantaklin, where we prevented a 14-year-old girl’s marriage through counselling. Sangeeta soon gave up her exam preparations to join me.


To spread awareness, I embarked on a 5,000 km cycle tour across Maharashtra, which was cut short by the pandemic. Meanwhile, we launched an initiative to empower 22 orphaned children in Vantaklin, later expanding to Ambejogai. Despite challenges, we remained committed, refining our mission along the way.


That vision materialized in 2019 with the founding of Majha Ghar. Initially, we housed 110 children, but today, 55 children, including 17 girls, live here. Our approach is not just academic; we teach these children vital life skills—farming, vegetable cultivation, candle-making, vermicomposting and more. Our goal is for Majha Ghar to be fully self-sustaining, so the children leave here not just with an education, but with the skills and confidence to become independent.


This year, we celebrated Diwali in a way that made us incredibly proud. The children raised Rs 2 lakh by making and selling lanterns, lamps, and scented powder. They spent two hours each day for the past two months creating over 100 bamboo lanterns, 1,500 clay lamps, and 5,000 packets of fragrant powder. It was a moment of triumph, proving that our approach was working: the children were not just learning; they were becoming self-reliant.


Looking ahead, we plan to expand Majha Ghar to accommodate 100 children in the next two years, and we aim to make the entire initiative self-sufficient. Our mission is clear: to provide not only an education but also the tools to help every child under our care become independent and capable of carving out their own future.


This is our journey, and we’re just getting started.


(The author runs a shelter home, Majha Ghar in Latur.)

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