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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.

Avoid Listening to 10 Heads

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

10 Heads

“Duss (10) Suron Ki Sunoge, Toh Sahi Kaise Chunoge?” This phrase resonates with the story of Dussehra, where Lord Ram triumphs over Ravana, a demon with ten heads, each representing a different distraction or temptation. In the world of personal finance, these “ten heads” symbolize the overwhelming number of opinions and advice people receive when managing their money. If you listen to every voice and follow every trend, you’ll struggle to identify the right path for yourself.


Learn Personal Finance: Knowledge is Power

In today’s fast-paced world, financial advice is everywhere—friends, family, colleagues, social media influencers, and unsolicited internet tips. Not all of it will be relevant to your unique financial situation. To navigate through the noise, it’s important to take control of your financial education.


Start by understanding key financial concepts like risk, return, liquidity, and time horizon for different investment products. Risk refers to the potential loss you might face with an investment, while return is the profit you can expect. Liquidity indicates how easily an asset can be converted into cash, and the time horizon is how long you plan to invest before needing to access the funds. Learning these basics will help you evaluate which products—be it mutual funds, direct stocks, gold, real estate, fixed deposits, or insurance—suit your goals and needs.


By educating yourself, you will develop a critical eye that helps you distinguish between helpful advice and noise. Whenever you analyze any instrument, all four criteria (risk, reward, liquidity, time horizon) must be considered in tandem and aligned with your financial goals (such as children’s education, marriage, buying a home, vacations, cars, or retirement). Having a foundational understanding of these concepts ensures you don’t fall prey to quick-fix schemes or misleading suggestions.


Have a Financial Advisor: Like a Family Doctor for Your Finances

Even with self-education, managing your finances can be challenging. This is where having a reliable financial advisor, much like a trusted family doctor, plays a crucial role. Just as your family doctor understands your medical history and offers personalized care, a financial advisor tailors their advice based on your unique financial profile—your income, savings, risk tolerance, and future financial goals.


A good financial advisor helps you stay focused on long-term objectives while steering you away from emotional, impulsive decisions. They provide holistic advice, guiding you through market ups and downs, and ensuring you maintain a diversified and balanced approach to your finances.


So, this Dussehra, remember: don’t listen to 10 heads. Choose wisely, stay informed, and have a trusted financial guide by your side.


(The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal.)

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