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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.

Prioritising Stock Traders’ Mental Well-Being

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

People desire security in financial income, but trading is inherently uncertain. As per recent data released by SEBI, 93 per cent of traders in the Futures and Options segment lost money between FY22-FY24.


Stress and anxiety are significant concerns for traders, among other mental health concerns. Due to the uncertainty, inexperienced traders will likely face more stress than experienced traders. Several studies indicate that the percentage of Indian adults suffering from moderate or high levels of anxiety is close to 11 per cent. Stoxmind.ai, a psychometric assessment service for traders, estimates the number of traders with the same concerns to be around 18 per cent. A 2023 study by Mumbai-based GOQii estimated that 17 per cent of Indians were stressed due to financial instability. Stress and anxiety can be triggered by the chances of losing money, making wrong decisions, market volatility and family pressure.


Traders feel strong emotions such as fear, greed, euphoria or demotivation. There is a constant fear of missing out on opportunities or losing money. They face the emotional ups and downs that accompany profits or losses. The psychological pressure to succeed in a highly competitive and uncertain environment can lead to various mental health concerns.


Traders are also susceptible to cognitive biases stemming from making assumptions from a large amount of available information. Such biases are bottlenecks for objective decision-making. For example, recency bias causes one to perceive undue weight to a recent win or loss.


Negative self-talk is yet another mental health concern. It includes dwelling on past losses or doubting one’s abilities. Trading requires a high focus on analysing data, executing strategies, and managing trades. However, negative emotions act as a distraction to maintain focus. Negative self-talk can undermine confidence and lead to shying away from self-reflection - through journaling, psychometric tests or seeking feedback from a mentor.


Strategies for Well-being

The importance of self-care cannot be overestimated in a risky profession like stock market trading. Self-care can include yoga, meditation, gym exercises, and quality time spent with loved ones. Being physically active is essential not only to keep the body fit but also to support cognitive abilities. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help traders to stay sharp and make better decisions.


A support network can be crucial for treading objectively in the trading journey. Support networks can include personal relations, peer traders at the same level in their journey and senior traders. A support system can provide encouragement, advice, and a sense of camaraderie. Talking about trading experiences can help process emotions before they become overwhelming.


Traders need resilience - the ability to sustain setbacks and adapt to challenges. Trading is a journey with ups and downs; coping with losses and setbacks is essential. Building resilience involves cultivating a positive mindset, avoiding unhealthy coping activities, and maintaining a long-term perspective. Perception of losses can be reframed as learning opportunities for growth.


Cultivating self-awareness through introspection is the key to growing a strong mindset. It is crucial to pay attention to the psychological factors that inhibit trading, such as fear of taking losses or lack of confidence. It is better to be honest with oneself about the motivations for trading and what one feels rather than trying to suppress or hide those feelings. Self-reflection helps to play on strengths, manage weaknesses and identify areas for growth. Psychometric tests, journaling, mentorship, or professional guidance can help develop self-awareness.


Conclusion

Trading success is predominantly driven by psychology, surpassing the importance of market analysis and trading strategies. Understanding and managing emotions, cognitive biases, and an objective mindset is crucial for making sound trading decisions and achieving consistent profitability. Traders often make the mistake of focusing solely on technical skills while neglecting the significant impact on their mental state. Seek support from peers, mentors, or mental health professionals when needed.


(The writer is the Psychological Coach at Stoxmind.ai, a free trading mindset assessment tool.)

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