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.

Gratitude Builds Your Brand

There are moments in life that carry far more weight than they appear to on the surface. A simple gesture, a thoughtful gift, or a word of appreciation can hold stories from generations, weaving together emotions, values, and unspoken bonds. Consider the joy of parents who, after years of giving tirelessly, experience the tender surprise of receiving something meaningful from their children. For many, it is not the object itself but the sentiment behind it that lights up their hearts. A pair of shoes, a piece of clothing, or even a small token suddenly becomes priceless because it carries love, acknowledgment, and thoughtfulness.


These moments often trigger memories of the past, of times when they too had gone out of their way to bring joy to their own parents, creating a beautiful circle of giving. This cycle reveals a truth about human nature. We do not just cherish possessions; we cherish the emotions attached to them. Parents who once took pride in doing something expensive or rare for their elders now feel the same pride when their children do the same for them. They may downplay the cost, even question its necessity, but the warmth they feel remains unmatched. It is in these small but deeply emotional exchanges that the essence of legacy resides.


They are stories that parents carry forward, often telling others, not out of vanity, but out of genuine pride in the thoughtful love of their children. When we pause to reflect, there is a lesson hidden here that extends beyond family and seeps into the way business and leadership operate. Just as parents remember gestures that carried thoughtfulness and sacrifice, so too do clients, teams, and partners remember how a business owner made them feel.


In a market that is saturated with options, where everyone offers similar products and services, what differentiates one entrepreneur from another is not just what is sold, but how the people attached to it feel. Were they valued? Did they feel seen? Was there a sense of genuine care in the interaction? Too often, businesses think in terms of transactions alone. Yet, the greatest and most enduring brands are those that understand emotional connection. They go beyond the sale and build a relationship that resonates at a human level.


Customers who experience such bonds do not simply consume; they advocate, they celebrate, and they become ambassadors of that brand’s story. Just as a mother once proudly told the world about the special footwear her son bought her, a satisfied client will proudly tell others about the entrepreneur who went above and beyond for them.


Personal branding, at its core, is about creating these exact impressions. It is about showing who you are in ways that inspire trust, admiration, and long-term loyalty. Entrepreneurs often think personal branding is about appearances, social media posts, or self-promotion. In truth, it is about building a perception rooted in authenticity and thoughtfulness. Just as children need not boast when they bring happiness to their parents, business leaders too need not rely on shouting their success from rooftops. Their actions, values, and consistent delivery of meaningful experiences do the talking for them. In today’s competitive business environment, entrepreneurs who understand this stand out naturally.


They become known not just for their offerings but for their character and the way they make others feel. Their reputation precedes them, and opportunities gravitate towards them without forced persuasion. That is the power of personal branding when done right—it is subtle, it is real, and it creates ripples that extend far beyond one immediate circle. As entrepreneurs begin to recognize the importance of weaving authenticity into their personal and business narratives, there is now a growing movement to equip them with the tools and strategies needed to shape their own unique brand presence.


For those who wish to take this step, a dedicated program for entrepreneurs focusing on personal branding will soon be opening its next batch in mid-September. With limited seats, it promises to be a space where founders and business owners learn how to translate their authenticity, values, and stories into powerful brand assets that drive both influence and business growth.


In the end, whether in families or in business, it is the thoughtfulness behind actions that builds legacies. Your personal brand is not just how the world sees you, it’s the very edge that decides whether opportunities chase you or pass you by. If you’re ready to rise above the noise and claim your unique mark, let’s talk – your brand, your edge, your next level awaits.


(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page