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.

How Summer Vacations Have Changed

Summer vacation has changed extensively over the years. I belong to an era of landline phones and letters which were the primary means of communication. We had very unstructured, unplanned holidays. Today vacations have become more structured, well planned and evokes a sense of thrill and excitement.


During our days, holidays were meant to give a break to children as the scorching sun in the month of April-May was unbearable and would sap energy. Today it's more of purpose bound from exploring new exotic destinations to developing new skills so on and so forth.


Holidays --Then

Break from studies: vacation was much awaited as we would get a break from studies and we would indulge in activities which would bring joy by playing outdoors which included hide n seek, hopscotch to name a few and indoor games were importantly carom, ludo and snake n ladder etc.


Visit to Grandparents/ relatives: I had the privilege of visiting grandparents’ house daily as they lived in the vicinity. So visiting them in particular during vacation was not in do-to list.


We visited aunts/uncle's as bonding was profoundly deep with cousins who waited for us and welcomed us and then shared about each other’s lives. Aunty cooked scrumptious meal which we all sat down cross legged keeping the kitchen door open for the breeze to get in which would balm the heat and we had a hearty satisfying meal, visit to temples and beach were previously planned, watching the sunset, various shades of Orange colour in the sky, and the horizon aroused questions on the mesmerizing creation by the creator, God. Waves which were calm and could turn gigantic in no time reminded us that calmness and destruction goes hand in hand. Long chats under the starry sky with cousins planning our next visit went on. Family would Sleep in one room under a single ceiling fan or a pedestal fan swaying all night. No complaints of heat yet, as the warmth in relations kept us relaxed and chilled. Luxury was for the rich but we felt truly enriched with our loved ones.


Relaxation and fun: Focus was on fun, recharge and to get back to school with zest and zeal.


Holidays -Now

Planned and structured: Vacations are full of activities like summer camps, music class, adventure camps and  academic classes still on alongside to meet the challenges of academics for the next term.


Outdoor games are so much restricted as kids have become gadget addicts and love to stay indoors glued to Television, play station mobile in an air conditioned packed room. Traditional outdoor games are slowly diminishing and hi- tech games are taking its place.


Luxury lavish destination: A visit to Grandparents or relatives has declined. Even if it is in do- to list duration of stay has significantly reduced as an idea of disturbance, barging in and encroachment on others space has set in which did not even cross our minds back then.


Exploration of new exotic destinations came into existence. As i mentioned holidays now are interesting and thrilling but the concern arises that Is it truly thrilling and interesting which will last long  where in each family member is hung to his or her own mobile even during holidays? sense of belongingness and oneness likely to  decrease as holidays is the perfect time to rebuild and restrengthen our equations by giving complete attention and time to each other.


Life without gadget is likely very hard but minimising the use and restructuring as a family should be a purpose in do-to list.


Summer vacation is on. Make it truly enjoyable, invigorating and create memories which you can cherish. Limit your exposure to gadgets and spend quality time with family, friends and near and dear ones.


Enhance your ability in any area of your interest.


Technology has connected us all on fingertips but let us make sure it does not disconnect us emotionally. Let us closely knit it back again.


Have a break free vacation from self-imposed barriers and restrictions. King of fruits, Mangoes are out everywhere. Let us relish it , sweeten our lives and spread Sweetness around. Let’s make each day worth cherishing.


(The author is a tutor based in Thane.)

Comments

bottom of page