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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.

Financial Tips for Women

Women’s Day is not just a date on the calendar - it is a movement. It is a reminder that women today are taking charge of their careers, money, and personal aspirations like never before. In this journey, financial independence is not a privilege - it is a necessity.


Financial independence is essential for every woman, whether single, married, or retired. Earning money is important, but managing, protecting, and growing that money is equally important.


The Importance of a Financial Advisor

Achieving financial goals and creating wealth is a marathon, not a sprint. No matter which stage of life one is in, the guidance of a well-qualified, full-time financial advisor can make a meaningful difference. While the do-it-yourself approach may appear attractive, it can often prove risky without the required education, experience, expertise and practical wisdom.


Recently Started Earning / Unmarried Women

For women who have recently started earning, the biggest advantage is time. Starting early can create a strong financial foundation for the future. If you have recently started earning or are unmarried, the focus should be on:


• Investing wisely: Begin with simple options like mutual funds and fixed deposits, depending on the time horizon of the goal.


• Prioritising health insurance: A comprehensive health insurance policy ensures that medical emergencies do not erode savings.


• Planning for retirement: Even if other goals are still unclear, retirement remains a universal financial goal and should be started as early as possible.


Married Women

Marriage brings shared responsibilities, and women should play an active role in managing family finances. Important focus areas include:


• Goal-based planning: Plan together for milestones such as buying a home, car, vacations, children’s education, children’s wedding expenses, and retirement.


• Aligning investments with goals: Choose investment avenues based on the time horizon and purpose of each financial goal.


• Building an emergency fund and insurance: Ensure that contingency reserves, life insurance, and health insurance are in place to protect the family.


• Investing in your own name: Women should maintain investments in their own name to strengthen financial independence and long-term security.


Retired Women

For women who are close to retirement or already retired, the priority shifts from wealth creation to preservation, simplicity, and income generation. The focus should be on:


• Ensuring a steady income: Investments should generate a predictable monthly income to comfortably meet regular expenses.


• Consolidating assets: Avoid unnecessary over-diversification and simplify investments for easier tracking and management.


• Balancing liquidity, safety, and growth: Financial decisions should maintain access to funds, protect capital, and still provide enough growth to beat inflation.

Final Thoughts


Women’s Day is a wonderful occasion to celebrate achievements, but it is also the right time to encourage every woman to take charge of her financial future.


(The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

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