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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.

Justice Yashwant Varma administered oath in clandestine manner, erodes people's trust: Bar Association

  • PTI
  • Apr 5, 2025
  • 3 min read

Prayagraj (UP): Justice Yashwant Varma, who was transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court amid cash-at-home allegations, was administered the oath in a "clandestine" manner on Saturday, the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) here claimed while condemning the move.


The lawyers' body, which had opposed the repatriation of the judge, questioned why "this oath was not notified to the Bar" and alleged that it has once again eroded the trust of people in the judicial system.


An in-house inquiry was ordered by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) after the recovery of "four to five semi-burnt sacks" of Indian currency notes from the residence of Justice Varma following a fire incident last month. Justice Varma has maintained that neither he nor his family was aware of the money.


In a letter dated April 5 addressed to Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Arun Bhansali, the secretary of HCBA, Allahabad, Vikrant Pandey, contended that "legally and traditionally, the oath administered to Justice Varma is fallacious and unacceptable" and urged the Chief Justice not to assign any administrative and judicial work to the judge.


"The entire Bar Association is at pains to learn about the clandestine manner in which Justice Yashwant Varma has been administered the oath of his office at Allahabad," the letter said.


"In due deference to our remonstration against the repatriation of Justice Yashwant Varma to Allahabad High Court, the Hon'ble CJI had met the members of the Bar and assured that appropriate steps be taken to maintain the dignity of the judicial system," Pandey said.


"We are given to understand that the system is taking every step in a fair and transparent manner, but why this oath is not notified to the Bar, is a question which again eroded the trust of people in the judicial system," he said in the letter.


"We unequivocally condemn the manner in which Justice Yashwant Varma was administered the oath behind our backs," he said.


There was no official word from the high court on the swearing-in of the judge.


The incident of cash recovery has reignited debate over the issue of judicial accountability and there have been calls from various quarters for stringent action in the matter to set a precedent and restore faith in the judiciary.


Pandey said that "subscription to oath has traditionally and continuously been conducted in open court".


"Keeping the lawyer fraternity uninformed may erode their confidence in this institution. We request our Hon'ble Chief Justice to protect the fundamental values and follow the traditions of this institution," he said.


"Also, we have been given to understand that the majority of the Hon'ble Judges were also not invited/informed in the aforesaid. Thus, legally and traditionally, the oath administered to Justice Varma is fallacious/unacceptable.


"We, once again condemn the aforesaid events and request the Hon'ble Chief Justice not to assign any administrative and judicial work to Justice Yashwant Varma," Pandey said in the letter.


Pandey said that the administration of oath to a judge is a quintessential event in the judicial system. "Lawyers being equal stakeholders in the institution, cannot be kept away. The High Court Bar Association passed a resolution saying therein that this oath is against the Constitution of India and therefore, the members of the Association do not want to be associated with unconstitutional oath."


"What we resolved, we spoke openly and not only this, we also sent a copy of resolutions to everybody including your lordship. Thus, we failed to understand as to what is the 'clandestine' in this oath," Pandey said

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