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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.

Devendra Fadnavis emerges as the strategic game-changer

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Devendra Fadnavis emerges as the strategic game-changer

In the election season all eyes are turning towards Maharashtra, where the political landscape is intensifying as the state eagerly awaits its own Assembly election dates. Maharashtra’s elections are expected to be a litmus test for the ruling and opposition alliances, reflecting broader trends that may shape the national political narrative leading up to the general elections. The outcome of these elections is likely to hinge on several factors, with infrastructure and development emerging as critical determinants for the key players.

A central figure in Maharashtra’s infrastructure transformation has been former Chief Minister and current Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. During his first term, Fadnavis faced several challenges as his government encountered criticism on multiple issues, particularly regarding farmer distress, rising unemployment, and insufficient relief efforts during severe droughts. However, despite these hurdles, Fadnavis was instrumental in reshaping the state’s infrastructure landscape. He is credited with not only initiating and advancing major projects like expressways, highways, and metro systems but also with establishing a dedicated office to track and expedite these developments. His office focused on both large-scale projects and urban infrastructure, reflecting his commitment to comprehensive state development.

Under Fadnavis’s leadership, key infrastructure projects such as the coastal road, the trans-harbour link, and the metro network have been fast-tracked. His efforts were pivotal in reviving the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), a project dormant for over five decades, and advancing the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, India’s first high-speed rail project. Additionally, he played a crucial role in garnering support for the Versova-Virar Sea Link and overcoming challenges related to the Mumbai Metro Line 3.

“Fadnavis model of governance” turned Maharashtra into an investment hub, attracting both domestic and international business through initiatives like the “Magnetic Maharashtra Summit” and “Make in Maharashtra.” These efforts, combined with youth-centric policies like the “Skill Development Mission” and the “Startup Policy,” boosted economic growth and job creation. Fadnavis’s strategic approach has left a lasting impact, with the current government continuing to follow the blueprint he established. This dedication to advancing infrastructure has been a cornerstone of his leadership and has solidified his position as a towering figure in Maharashtra politics.

Recent attacks from Uddhav Thackeray highlight Fadnavis’s growing influence and the opposition’s recognition of him as a major threat. His growing influence has prompted calculated moves by opponents who fear his popularity and effectiveness as a mass leader. His strategic actions and grassroots mobilisation have been pivotal in shaping the BJP’s success in Maharashtra, especially since 2014 when the party, under his leadership, won 122 seats in the assembly elections.

During Eknath Shinde’s swearing-in as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister in June 2022, Devendra Fadnavis initially stated that he would not be part of the new administration. Nevertheless, following a directive from the central leadership and in the interest of maintaining party unity, Fadnavis agreed to serve as Deputy Chief Minister. His decision to abide by the party’s decision, despite facing personal and political challenges, underscores his deep commitment to the party and its broader goals. Fadnavis’s sense of responsibility and loyalty to the BJP has been evident in his efforts to stabilise the newly formed Mahayuti government and redirect the state’s development agenda, which had stalled during the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi administration.

Both the RSS and the BJP’s central leadership believe that, if the BJP is to win the upcoming assembly election, Fadnavis remains central to the party’s strategy. His leadership, popularity, and organisational skills are seen as crucial assets as the BJP prepares for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. Projecting Fadnavis as the face of the party— the “Vikas Purush” is considered essential for navigating the challenges ahead and regaining power in the state.

(The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal)

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