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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.

Bhujbal trying hard for guardianship

Mumbai: Veteran NCP leader and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal after being inducted as Cabinet Minister under CM Devendra Fadnavis lasy week, has started pushing hard for the post of the guardian minister of the Nashik district. While the Shiv Sena had earlier staked claim for the post, the BJP is unlikely to let it go and keep the post with itself now.


With Bhujbal’s induction, Nashik now has four ministers in the Maharashtra cabinet — Dada Bhuse of the Shiv Sena under DCM Eknath Shinde and Manikrao Kokate, Narhari Zirwal and Bhujbal from the NCP under DCM Ajit Pawar. While Shiv Sena’s Bhuse, and NCP’s Kokate had been eyeing the position of guardian minister till now, BJP’s Girish Mahajan was considered to be the de-facto guardian minister of the district. Mahajan is considered close to Fadnavis and during the previous tenure of Fadnavis he was guardian minister of the district. Also, after the initial spat over the post of guardian minister, Fadnavis has kept the district with himself. Hence, it was being considered that Mahajan would be the guardian minister.


However, Bhujbal’s return to the cabinet has changed the dynamics. Especially given his seniority, experience, strong base in Nashik and tendency to achieve political goals, he may be the natural contender for the position is it is to go to the NCP. Bhujbal himself too appears to be keen on getting the post. That is the reason why many posters and hoardings are seen put up in Nashik by many of his supporters stating that his appointment as the guardian minister of the district is now merely a formality.


Meanwhile, appointment of Mahajan as the guardian minister of the district had reportedly been put on hold after Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena expressed displeasure, insisting on their claim to the post. However, senior BJP ministers, on condition of anonymity, have said that the BJP is likely to keep the post to itself, meaning Mahajan would eventually be the guardian minister of the district.


Kokate, who was once considered to be a serious contender of the post, lost the lead after he was sentenced by a local court in an over two-decade old case. He, however, is dead against Bhujbal getting the post. Though he is making statements apparently in support of Bhujbal, his close associates say that his stark differences with Bhujbal would make him accept minister from any other party as the guardian minister of the district.


Bhujbal’s supporters say that he has been inducted into the cabinet in order to consolidate OBC support in regions like Marathwada, Nashik, and Ahilya Nagar ahead of upcoming local body elections. After Dhananjay Munde’s resignation, the NCP lacked a major and aggressive OBC face. After consultations with the core leadership, Ajit Pawar took the strategic decision to bring Bhujbal back. However, sources also indicate that Bhujbal might be assigned as Guardian Minister of Beed, to avoid escalating the ongoing tussle over Nashik’s portfolio between the BJP and Shiv Sena.


Bhujbal’s opponents also point at the sharp criticism from Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who accused Ajit Pawar of promoting caste-based politics through Bhujbal’s inclusion. It is being interpreted as the wrath of Maratha community against Bhujbal. Demographically Nashik is among the few districts dominated by Maratha community and hence, the government is unlikely to take the risk of elevating Bhujbal as the guardian minister of this district.


Also, considering the local politics going into the NCP’s hands, the BJP is unlikely accept Bhujbal as the guardian minister.


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