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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.

Pakistani troops open unprovoked fire at Indian posts along LOC as tensions escalate over Pahalgam massacre



Pakistani troops opened "unprovoked" fire at Indian posts across the Line of Control last night as tensions between the two countries escalated following the massacre of 26 civilians at a tourist hotspot in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. This marks the second time in two nights that Pakistani troops have attempted to provoke the Indian side.


The Indian Army reported firing from multiple posts along the Line of Control, the boundary separating Indian and Pakistani forces in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Officials said Indian troops responded appropriately to the Pakistani fire.


"On the night of 25th-26th of April 2025, unprovoked Small Firing was carried out by multiple Pakistan Army post all across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Indian troops responded appropriately with small arms. No casualties reported," the statement read.


Speculative firing was also reported yesterday, with military sources suggesting that Pakistani troops were testing the alertness of Indian soldiers, amid calls within India to take decisive action against terror hotspots along the LoC.


These ceasefire violations follow a series of measures taken by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. In the Tuesday massacre, at least 26 civilians vacationing in Baisaran meadow, known as "Mini Switzerland", were shot dead by five terrorists. The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sources suggest that 26/11 mastermind and Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed was the handler of the foreign terrorists who carried out the attack.

In response, India took strict action, suspending the Indus Water Treaty, citing "sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan". In a strong message from Delhi, Water Minister CR Patil threatened that "not a drop" of the Indus water would flow to Pakistan.


Vowing to punish every terrorist, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that Indian troops would pursue them to the ends of the earth. He added that those involved in the terror attack and the conspirators would face a punishment larger than they could imagine.


India and Pakistan have also pulled their diplomatic staff and stopped visa services for each other's nationals. Visitors now have a short deadline to return to their homeland, and cross-border visits are unlikely to resume until the situation defuses.


Islamabad has suspended all bilateral pacts with India, including the Simla Agreement. Wagah Border, which once drew thousands of tourists and hosted the popular border ceremony, has also been closed.

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