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.

Destruction and Death

The Ahmedabad plane crash shattered lives and hopes in an instant. Over 260 souls were lost, families broken, and a city was left to mourn a tragedy too vast to comprehend.

Ahmedabad has faced many tragedies, but the 12 June 2025 plane crash remains unforgettable. Over 270 lives were lost when an Air India flight to London crashed into a medical college, bursting into flames. Families from eight districts rushed to identify their loved ones. The aircraft crashed just four minutes after take-off.


The aircraft was carrying about 1.2 lakh litres of aviation fuel. It was a tragedy beyond imagination. Condolences feel too small a word for families who have lost loved ones. The plane split in two, with one part crashing 100 metres away and triggering a massive explosion.


The blast was so loud that BJ Medical College students thought it was a bomb. In a panic, many jumped from the third floor, suffering injuries. The tail section struck the hostel canteen, injuring several students during lunch.


It was a scene too horrific to describe. No one in Gujarat or Ahmedabad will forget the deafening explosion and the fire that followed, consuming lives and fuel alike. Many tourists were burnt alive. The yellow flames cast a permanent black shadow over countless families.


When we arrived at the scene, it felt like the building bore witness to death.


After removing the aircraft’s engine and other debris, we were confronted with the grim sight of bodies; tragically, not a single one was intact. Body parts lay scattered amidst the devastation.


The crash site was personally significant, as I spent my childhood in that area. The impact caused a massive explosion and fireball, with flames visible kilometres away. One wing reportedly fell on a nearby road, sparking a fire. Given the heavy traffic, there were fears that motorists were caught in the blaze.


I live just 500 metres from the plane crash site. A friend of mine, who works at the local police station, called and said, “A plane has crashed. Please get to the site — and bring as many people as you can to help.” From the urgency in his voice, it was clear this was no ordinary accident.


Within 20 minutes, a few friends and I reached the scene, and what lay before us looked like something out of a Hollywood film. For a moment, I was frozen, unable to process what to do.


A fire official warned us to stay back, as flames and explosions from the hostel still raged. With the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation staff, we used four JCBs to clear the road for ambulances. The plane-hit building, Atulyam Tower, looked monstrous. Medical students were having lunch when the crash happened — who could have imagined it?


Slowly, bodies began to emerge from the rubble. Heartbreakingly, not a single one was intact. With the scattered remains, it became clear where people had died.


My friend and former corporator Bhadreshbhai Makwana joined the rescue, helping evacuate people and coordinating with the ambulance service, police, and fire department.


The tragedy deepened with news that former Chief Minister VijaybhaiRupani also died in the crash. Under his leadership, Gujarat saw the rise of Metro, AIIMS, and railway coach units. Known for his simplicity, he made his final journey heavenward. Rajkot bid him a tearful farewell, mourning into the night despite the relentless rain.


Valuable items found were returned to the authorities. The relief work continued till 6.30 pm, till other agencies took control of the site. Despite relief efforts with RSS volunteers, we saw crying faces, helplessness, and people unable to find their loved ones. For 12 consecutive days after the plane crash, it felt as if Ahmedabad was enduring an accident. Whether it was a technical fault or a human error is a subject of research, but the people of India will never forget such an incident.


This heart-wrenching incident shocked everyone. For the relatives of the deceased, this incident is a loss. Time often heals, but here, people witness the wrath of time. It was a scene where even a brave and steadfast person would collapse. The kingdom of rubble seemed to rule over the dead. Amidst the relief work, some acts reflected humanity. NGOs, temples (specifically the Swaminarayan temple, Shahibagh), and the RSS arranged for drinking water and food. Ahmedabad, at that moment, set a milestone in humanity.


The crash happened in Ahmedabad, but those lost can now only be seen in photographs. They may be silent, but their memories will remain. No one could have imagined that a journey that started with aspirations would end in permanent loss. No one would wish such deaths of tourists, students, and children even for their enemy.

(The author is a professional based in Ahmedabad. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page