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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.

BJP bets big on Chavan

Elevation of a ‘Maratha’ from ‘Konkan’ to counter all shades of Sena

Mumbai: Accessibility, responsiveness, ability to strike an instant connect with party cadres as well as electorate and strong political strategic acumen are the qualities that describe Ravindra Chavan. However, apart from these qualities, him being a Maratha from Konkan region and one who has won consecutive elections from district known for dominance of Shiv Sena, seem to have played a major role in catapulting him to the position of the state BJP President.Ravindra Chavan, known as a steadfast voice from Dombivli, will be officially declared elected as the BJP’s Maharashtra state President at a gathering of party workers at the NSCI dome at Worli on Tuesday.

 

Born on 20 September 1970 in Mumbai, Chavan began his political career in 2002 as the Kalyan Sub-District President of the BJYM, the youth wing of the BJP. His early years were marked by active participation in civic issues and public mobilization. In 2005, he was elected as a corporator in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). His leadership qualities quickly propelled him to the position of Chairman of the Standing Committee in 2007. In 2009, Chavan made a significant leap by becoming the first MLA from the newly formed Dombivli Assembly constituency. Since then, he has retained the seat in four consecutive elections cementing his popularity and influence in the region. The reason behind his popularity is his accessibility and responsiveness, say voters from his constituency.


Ministerial tenure

In the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, Chavan served as a Minister of State between 2016 and 2019. In the Eknath Shinde cabinet, between August 2022 and November 2024, he became the Cabinet Minister for Public Works (excluding Public Undertakings) and Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection. He also served as the Guardian Minister for Palghar and Sindhudurg districts, overseeing regional development and governance. The power helped him galvanize his skills with public and the organizational cadres.


The party took note of his skills and abilities and moulded him for the responsibility. Chavan was appointed as the General Secretary of the state BJP in 2020 and was elevated to the position of Working President in January this year. His rise within the party ranks reflects his strategic thinking and ability to connect with both the cadre and the electorate.


But, more than these abilities, him being a Maratha from Konkan region appears to be his bigger qualification in the present political situation in the state. Konkan had always been a bastion of Shiv Sena. It was due to Chavan’s efforts, many of the Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have joined the BJP in recent times. Also, Chavan comes from Dombivali, which comes under the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency represented by Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde. The BJP cadres had locked horns with Shinde faction of Shiv Sena for a long time. Hence, elevation of Chavan to the post of state unit president is also a message to Shinde, to stay within limits.


Grassroot connection

Chavan has demonstrated grassroots connect and administrative acumen. He has also championed several local initiatives in Dombivli, including infrastructure development, digital governance, and public welfare schemes. His efforts to improve civic amenities and streamline public services have earned him a loyal voter base. In short, he is well aware of the entire cross-section of the state administration and possesses proven abilities to engage party cadres as well as the common people. Probably this is why the party has chosen him to shape the political narrative of the state without losing focus on development and inclusive governance.


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