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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.

Hindus have been bleeding since 1989: Ashwani Bhat

While the World is sympathizing with what has happened, and the Centre has promised that normal life will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir soon, a Mumbai based Kashmiri Pandit who fled from his house in Anantnag district of Kashmir back in 1989 thinks otherwise. Speaking exclusively to Ruddhi Phadke, the News Editor of ‘The Perfect Voice’, Ashwani Bhat, the President of the Kashmiri Pandit Association of Mumbai that also covers Thane, Raigad and Navi Mumbai and has over 1000 families as its members including popular personalities like Anupam Kher shared his valuable insights on why Kashmir is still bleeding. Bhat said, “Terror attacks will keep happening because locals are in support of these terrorists. We have failed to understand the root cause of why Pakistan has been able to keep this fire on in Kashmir.”


When did you leave Kashmir and under what circumstances?

I was born in Nai Basti located in Anantnag district of Kashmiri. I was a victim of the 1989 mass exodus. We had two huge houses having 12-15 rooms each. We had beautiful houses. The atmosphere was getting worse. We were continuously threatened through sign boards or mosque announcements that clearly said, “Convert to Islam, leave the place or get killed.” We had no option; I shifted out of Kashmir along with my parents and grandmother. I don’t have a house there, I have no relatives there. I visit Srinagar every year for emotional reasons, visit temples, stay for two days in hotels and return.


Where did you complete your schooling? Did you face any discrimination?

I did my schooling in Anantnag. Discrimination, threats were always there. I was the only Hindu boy in my class till class 10. We could see discrimination against Hindus at every step, from education opportunities to jobs and more. In fact, we were singled out to an extent that I remember I used to wipe off the red tilak that I used to put on my forehead during any pooja or function before stepping out of my house. I was always very scared.


Have you ever visited Baisaran valley where the attack happened?

Of course, it was hardly 15-17 km from my house. It was a popular spot for our school picnics. I saw the pictures that were circulated of the attack. Nothing has changed. The road is still not motorable, we still need to get there on horses or by trekking. The visuals brought back my childhood memories and what happened was beyond my imagination. Same fear! Same experience of being targeted for being Hindus! Nothing has changed. The Government keeps saying after every attack in Kashmir, that life has been restored. However, life was never really restored in Kashmir for Hindus.


What is the solution?

We haven’t really understood the root cause of the issue that has kept Kashmir bleeding. We are busy blaming Pakistan and planning to attack Pakistan. Yes, Pakistan is an enemy. However, a worse enemy lies within Kashmir. The local residents who give shelter and support to these terrorists are not allowing us to wipe off terror from the valley. We need to address the root cause. Unless locals stop supporting these Pakistan sponsored terrorists, nothing will change.


Why do you think locals are risking their source of income by supporting these terrorists?

The locals are aware that Kashmir’s economy depends on tourism, and an attack on tourists will push them towards another major setback. Luckily although they know this, and though they want people to come and boost their tourism sector, ironically some of them still continue to support these terrorists which seem like a dreadful reminder of their intolerance towards Hindus. They seem to want to keep that fire on.


Has the efforts of the Indian army or abrogation of article 370 changed anything?

At the end of the day, everyone wants peace. Peace comes only with prosperity. Prosperity comes when business opportunities come. Abrogation of article 370 has changed the face of Kashmir to a large extent. Locals are minting money due to the investments that are coming in. At the end of the day you continue to remain economically backward in isolation. You need investments coming from outside. Locals can't do much all alone. Whether they like it or not, locals are benefitting from the investments coming from outside. The locals have realized what their future lies in. Having said that, one thing is clear! Kashmir can never be prosperous unless Pandits shift back to the land that originally belonged to them. Locals will have to accept this.

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