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.

Dynasty Descendants

Rebels, multi-cornered contests and dynasts – that’s the overriding theme of the Assembly elections that are coming up this month. Of the 4000 plus candidates in the fray, more than 20 are related to current and former politicians. No political party, despite making loaded statements about not supporting dynasties, is an exception to this trend.


Dynasts, it is believed, have ‘elective value’ with a ready support base, dedicated cadre, the goodwill the family may carry in the constituency and a familiar surname. Sons, daughters, nephews, nieces and in-laws are making their electoral debut in an election which is being fought more on allegations, accusations and changing loyalties than an ideology or development plans. If some offspring remain in the relative’s party, others are trying their luck in different parties with even siblings being split by political alliances.


PART - 2


Sanjana Jadhav, Shiv Sena

Kannad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will see Sanjana Jadhav, daughter of senior BJP leader and five-time-MP Raosaheb Danve take on her estranged husband Harshvardhan. A former member of the zilla parishad, she switched to the Shiv Sena and secured a nomination. She will contest against Harshvardhan, a two-term former MLA.



Suhas Babar, Shiv Sena

His father Anil Babar, known for various social initiatives in his constituency, passed away a few months ago. The Shiv Sena nominated Suhas from the Khanapur-Aatpadi constituency, a drought-struck area of Sangli which his father has held for several terms.




Salil Deshmukh, NCP (SP)

For the first time since 1995, Katol in Nagpur will see someone other than Anil Deshmukh contest the elections. But the candidate happens to be the former home minister’s son Salil whose political beginnings with the zilla parishad.






Varun Sardesai, Shiv Sena (UBT)

He’s best known as Aditya Thackeray’s maternal cousin which makes him yet another member of Uddhav Thackeray’s family to jump into the electoral fray. A constant presence by his cousin’s side when Aditya was a minister in the MVA government, Varun has worked with the youth wing of the undivided Shiv Sena.





Vilas Bhumre, Shiv Sena

Chairman of the family-controlled Renukadevi Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, his father Sandipan Bhumre is a Member of Parliament. Vilas is contesting the Paithan seat from Marathwada as a member of the Shiv Sena.






Rahul Awade, BJP

His father Prakash Awade had been on a winning spree from Ichalkaranji since 1995 but lost in 2009 and 2014 to the BJP candidate. In 2019, he was re-elected as an Independent and now his son Rahul, a former member of the Ichalkaranji zilla parishad, is making his debut in the state assembly elections.






Sreejaya Chavan, BJP

Months after her father, former chief minister Ashok Chavan, switched over to the BJP from the Congress, Sreejaya has been nominated from Bhokar in Nanded, a constituency her father has represented for several years. Sreejaya comes with an impressive legacy—grandfather Shankarrao Chavan was the Union home minister, mother Ameeta is former MLA.

Comments

bottom of page