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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.

How to Choose the Right Financial Advisor?

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

How to Choose the Right Financial Advisor

In India, where managing money and paperwork can be complex, having a financial advisor is essential. You need a single point of contact (not yourself) to help navigate your financial journey. But what makes a good financial advisor, and why is it so crucial to choose the right one?


Key Qualities of a Good Financial Advisor

First and foremost, your financial advisor must be well-qualified.  Just as you wouldn’t trust your health to an unqualified person and instead go to a doctor, you shouldn’t entrust your wealth to someone without the necessary expertise. Health and wealth are both sensitive and complicated domains that significantly impact your life in various ways.  Credentials ensure that the advisor has the education and experience to manage your financial health effectively. 

Second, a good advisor should be an entrepreneur, not an employee of a bank or brokerage firm. Why? Because employees are often product-focused and driven by sales targets. Their advice may be biased toward selling you specific products rather than focusing on your financial goals. On the other hand, an independent advisor who runs their own business is more likely to focus on tailored solutions for your needs. They typically offer multiple financial products and strategies, balancing key factors like risk, return, liquidity, and time period requirements. Their knowledge of financial ratios, formulas, and diverse products is crucial in balancing your portfolio across different asset classes, adding value beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.

This allows them to create the right mix for your financial goals. Additionally, this person should be a full-time advisor (not part-time), so they can dedicate the time and focus required to understand your long-term financial vision. Their only business should be managing your money—not juggling multiple ventures.

A good financial advisor must be someone who you can trust for the long-term. You are entrusting them with your money and your future. They should be a long-term partner who is there throughout your entire investment journey, not just someone who makes a sale and moves on. This sets them apart from bank or brokerage relationship managers, who often change jobs and provide inconsistent service.


Why You Shouldn’t Go It Alone

Many people hesitate to pay for financial advice, thinking they can manage their finances on their own. The cost of not having an advisor could far exceed the fees you pay for professional advice. Without the right guidance, you risk making costly mistakes that could jeopardize your financial goals. Remember, it takes years of education, expertise, experience, and wisdom to write a prescription—so don’t self-medicate. The cost of going wrong or doing nothing is massive—it might cost you your financial goals!

Ultimately, finding the right financial advisor is a critical step toward achieving financial freedom. Choose wisely. Look for a well-qualified, entrepreneurial advisor who serves as a single point of contact, deals with multiple products and solutions, and is long-term oriented—someone who will be there from the beginning of your investment journey to the end.

(The writer is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal.)

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