top of page

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.

“All Is Well”: A Mantra for Life and Travel

When the mind believes ‘all is well’, the journey—both in life and on the road—becomes infinitely more beautiful.

“All is well” is a powerful mantra that proves its worth in almost every situation in life. At every stage, we experience a mix of fear, excitement, and anxiety. Yet, the moment we reassure ourselves that everything will be fine, we gain the inner strength to face the situation with calm and confidence.


Travel is often seen as hectic and exhausting. Long journeys can tire not just the body but the mind as well. However, when travel is planned thoughtfully with us (goglobalvoyages.in), and arrangements are made in advance, the experience becomes truly pleasurable for leisure travellers.


Once the journey begins, maintaining a comfortable, unhurried pace makes all the difference. Travelling without rushing allows us to observe our surroundings, absorb new experiences, and enjoy the moment. This relaxed approach keeps anxiety in check, steadies the heart rate, and brings a deeper sense of joy and fulfilment.


In essence, mindful planning and a calm mindset turn travel into a source of happiness rather than stress—just as the famous song reminds us.

Dil jo tera baat baat pe ghabraaye

Dil pe rakh ke haath usae tu fuslaa le.

Dil idiot hai; pyaar se usko samjha le.

to hoth ghuma

Seeti bajaa

Seeti bajaa ke bol

O bhaiyya, all is well.


Because when the mind believes “all is well”, the journey—both in life and on the road—becomes infinitely more beautiful.


In 1999, while pursuing my bachelor’s degree in tourism management, we travelled to Uttarakhand to visit the Valley of Flowers and Badrinath. It was a challenging trek for my parents and me. Although we were part of a group from Pune, my parents joined from Jalgaon, while I travelled with the Pune group. I was thrilled about the trip.


Rishikesh lies at the foothills of the Himalayas. Known as the “Yoga Capital of the World”, it is a sacred town in Uttarakhand where the Ganga emerges from the mountains. Renowned for its ancient temples, ashrams, and spiritual significance as a Hindu pilgrimage centre, it is also a hub for yoga, meditation, and adventure tourism. The town’s serenity always fills me with a sense of spiritual mindfulness.


On arrival, we hired an autorickshaw that took us to Lakshman Jhoola, a hanging bridge over the river. Nearby stands its twin, Ram Jhoola. Monkeys rule parts of this area, and from these bridges, the sacred Ganga can be seen flowing magnificently.


The next morning, we began our journey to Joshimath. En route, we passed through Rudraprayag, one of the Panch Prayag, where the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers meet. Named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), it is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre in the Garhwal Himalayas and a gateway to Kedarnath.


As we travelled along rough roads at about 30 kph, I admired the beautiful views of the Garhwal Himalayan range. After passing through Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag, and Vishnuprayag, we finally reached Joshimath. Situated below Auli, it became our halt, and the next morning we took the ropeway up to Auli.


The Auli Ropeway was one of the highlights of our journey. Connecting Joshimath to Auli, it offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks, forests, and valleys. More than just a means of transport, it is among the most scenic ropeways in India.


Auli is surrounded by coniferous and oak forests, offering panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks. Its slopes suit both professional skiers and beginners. We were awestruck by the beauty of Auli’s landscape.


The next day, we travelled to Govindghat. From there, the 14-km trek to Ghangaria is scenic, well-maintained, and gently graded with no steep sections. However, the slippery trail made me cautious, so my parents held each other’s hands as we walked closely with our group.


As we wound along the Lakshman Ganga River, we were treated to breathtaking views of waterfalls and lush meadows. Ghangaria, a small settlement, serves as the base camp for trekkers heading to the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara.


Finally, the big day arrived—we were set to visit the Valley of Flowers. Established in 1982, the Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district is renowned for its alpine meadows, endemic flowers, and a wide variety of flora.


This richly diverse region is home to rare and endangered animals such as the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep. The park also shelters the Himalayan monal pheasant and other high-altitude bird species.


The very name Valley of Flowers evokes something epic, like a land of deities and immortals. The entire route is a photographer’s paradise, and what unfolded during this trek became one of the most life-transforming experiences I have ever had.


We will continue this thrilling journey in the next article! So stay tuned!


(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page