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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.

Pahalgam Terror Attack: Airlines told to keep fares to Srinagar in check, extra flights deployed for evacuation



SRINAGAR: Following the deadly militant attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, that killed 26 tourists and two local residents, the civil aviation ministry has directed airlines not to increase airfares on the Srinagar route.


Airlines have also been asked to run extra flights to help passengers leave the city.


Air India and IndiGo will operate four additional flights on Wednesday—two to Delhi and two to Mumbai.


Air India announced it will run two extra flights from Srinagar—one to Delhi at 11:30 am and another to Mumbai at 12:00 noon—due to the current situation.


“Booking for these flights is now open,” the airline said, adding that all other scheduled flights to and from Srinagar will continue as planned.


Air India also stated it is offering free rescheduling and full refunds on cancellations for passengers with confirmed tickets on these routes till April 30. Both Air India and IndiGo have waived charges for rescheduling and cancellations.


Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu held an urgent meeting with airline representatives and issued a strong advisory against raising prices on the Srinagar route.


According to an official release on Wednesday, airlines have been instructed to keep fares at regular levels to avoid putting additional burden on passengers during this difficult time.


Naidu also spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah and is closely monitoring the situation with the help of concerned authorities.


“As part of immediate relief efforts, four special flights from Srinagar—two to Delhi and two to Mumbai—have been arranged. More flights are on standby if needed for evacuation,” the release added.


The militant attack took place on Tuesday at Baisaran, a popular tourist spot near Pahalgam in south Kashmir. At least 26 people, most of them tourists, were killed and many others injured.


The attack has left tourists frightened, and many are now preparing to leave the region.


Baisaran, often called ‘mini Switzerland,’ is only accessible by foot or horseback, as there is no motorable road leading to it.


Two foreign nationals—one from the UAE and another from Nepal—are among those killed.


The deceased also include Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, an officer of the Indian Navy, and businessman Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga, Karnataka.

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