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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.

Pawar plays mediator, tension in MVA recedes

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) were at loggerheads over 12 seats in Vidarbha and Nashik


Pawar plays mediator, tension in MVA recedes

Mumbai: After much hue and cry throughout the Sunday, the conflict between the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies over seat sharing was sorted out when NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar swung in the action to mediate. Pawar gave earful to Congress as well as Shiv Sena (BBT) leaders virtually forcing them to sit on a table. A joint press conference is likely to take place on Monday to announce the seat sharing of three parties.


After Saturday’s nine-hour-long marathon meeting at Trident Hotel, the MVA leaders were far ahead from the consensus even on Sunday. The bone of contention was crucial seats in the Vidarbha region. The standoff has intensified, with leaders of the Thackeray faction reportedly approaching the Congress high command in Delhi. The Thackeray faction has called for an emergency meeting at Matoshree, where party chief Uddhav Thackeray discussed the course of action in length.


At the heart of the disagreement was the allocation of crucial seats in regions such as Vidarbha, Mumbai and Nashik. One of the key flashpoints is Nashik West, where the Thackeray faction has been pushing for Sudhakar Badgujar’s candidacy. However, the Congress remains adamant on fielding its candidate. The situation escalated during the late-night meeting, as Congress leader Nana Patole’s insistence on Nashik West reportedly led to a walkout by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.


Vidarbha has emerged as another significant battleground during the seat-sharing talks. The Thackeray faction has staked claim on 12 key seats, including prominent constituencies such as Armori, Chimur and Ramtek. These are currently held by either the BJP or independent candidates, and the Thackeray faction argues that as these seats are not currently held by MVA incumbents, our claim is justified. However, the Congress has been unwilling to concede several of these seats.


According to sources, both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders directly approached NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar to mediate and resolve the differences in the opposition alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Anil Parab and Aaditya Thackeray met Pawar at Y.B. Chavan Centre. Senior Congress leaders in Delhi were also in constant touch with Pawar.


Finally, Pawar swung into action and summoned leaders of both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) and scolded them. He made them aware of the consequences of the possible split. Sena pleaded that during the Lok Sabha election, their party gave its Ramtek and Amravati seats to the Congress. The party now wants more seats in the Assembly polls as part of the MVA alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) has claimed a total of 12 seats in the Vidarbha region. The party is arguing that there are no existing MLAs from MVA on these 12 seats. Congress leaders vociferously opposed this demand.

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