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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.

Gender Discrimination in Schemes

Gender Discrimination

Gender discrimination impacts millions of girls and boys around the world, denying them basic human rights like education, income equality, and a life free of violence. But here in Maharashtra the women have outsmarted the men as far as one state government’s scheme is concerned. The Maharashtra government launched the Ladka Bhau Yojana for the state’s boys after the success of the Ladli Behin Yojana.


Anticipating wrath from the boys especially unemployed, the Maharashtra government has introduced a new scheme Ladka Bhau Yojana 2024 aimed at helping young people. Through this, unemployed youth will receive Rs 10,000 per month. This funding will be given throughout the training program to help them find jobs and inspire them to work for themselves. The beneficiaries’ financial circumstances and living standards will improve as a result. There will also be a decline in the state’s unemployment rate once this scheme takes off. This program will guarantee the growth of the state’s youngsters and brighten their future so that they can advance in their careers.


With the overarching goal of improving employability among young men between the ages of 18 and 35, the Ladka Bhau Yojana brings vocational training to the forefront. It acknowledges the dire need for professional skills development amid increasing competition and rising unemployment rates. The Ladka Bhau Yojana is designed to provide financial assistance and vocational training to unemployed young men in the state, ensuring they have the necessary skills and resources to secure a stable future. The primary goal of the Ladka Bhau Yojana is to empower the youth of Maharashtra by offering them free vocational training and financial support. By equipping them with practical and technical skills, the program aims to reduce unemployment and improve the living standards of beneficiaries. The initiative is part of the Maharashtra government’s broader strategy to launch several public welfare schemes ahead of the assembly elections.


The program is expected to benefit around ten lakh young individuals across the state each year, providing them with the skills and support needed to overcome unemployment and achieve economic stability. By offering both training and financial support, the Ladka Bhau Yojana aims to reduce the unemployment rate in Maharashtra, ensuring that young people have the means to build successful careers. The scheme’s structure is simple yet powerful. Monthly stipends corresponding to their educational qualifications will be given to the youths. For example, those who have completed the 12th grade will earn Rs 6,000 monthly, ITI graduates will receive Rs 8,000, and graduates or postgraduates will secure Rs 10,000 per month during the six-month training program.

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