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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.

NIA may seek Tahawwur Rana’s voice sample to link him to 26/11 calls



The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which currently has Pakistani-Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana in its custody following his extradition, may seek to collect his voice sample to verify call records related to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.


By comparing the voice sample with recorded calls, authorities aim to confirm whether Rana was involved in phone conversations giving instructions during the November 2008 attacks that killed 166 people in Mumbai.


Rana’s consent is required for the collection of his voice sample. If he refuses, the NIA can approach the court for permission. In case of refusal, this fact will be included in the chargesheet, which could work against him during trial proceedings.


Once permission is secured, experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory will visit the NIA headquarters to collect the sample in a noise-free environment.


Since his extradition from the United States on Thursday, Rana has been kept and questioned at the high-security NIA headquarters located in the CGO Complex in New Delhi. During interrogation, officials are trying to uncover more about a man Rana met in Dubai before the Mumbai attacks and the unexplained non-renewal of a Mumbai office lease registered under Rana’s immigration agency. This office was reportedly used by 26/11 mastermind David Headley as cover while surveying targets, including prominent hotels and public places across Mumbai.


The NIA’s 18-day interrogation is also expected to explore the roles of Pakistani nationals Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the attacks. Investigators may further question Rana about other key conspirators such as Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Sajid Majeed Mir.


Rana has spoken to officials about his background in Pakistan, his family, education, immigration to Canada with his wife, and the launch of his immigration and travel agency in Chicago.


According to NIA sources, Rana was “largely uncooperative” on the first day of questioning and provided limited information.


Rana, who previously worked in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, has told investigators that he cannot recall many details of the events but has confirmed being in Mumbai at least a week before the attacks.


Earlier, in 2010, David Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, was questioned by an NIA team in the US. He was convicted there for his role in the 26/11 attacks.

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