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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.

Rain: Soul-Stirring and Earth-Renewing

Rain arrives as a paradoxical adventure—calm yet chaotic, beautiful yet messy, bringing both joy and discomfort. It comes to end the drought, restore hope, and begin healing.

After the dry, scorching summer, the long-awaited monsoon arrives in full force. The very first shower brings relief, joy, and rejuvenation, refreshing both body and spirit.


As the raindrops touch the parched land, the fragrance of wet mud rises, awakening child-like excitement. What a beautiful, fragrant perfume surfacing from Mother Earth, which comforts everyone.


The sight of raindrops falling down the window, the rhythmic patter of rain on rooftops, rippling puddles, occasional rolling, noisy thunder, and flashy lightning painting the sky heightens the thrill of the season. The brown, dry landscape turns into a vibrant green. Umbrellas are all over the street, blooming like flowers. The sight is truly breathtaking!


The world outside is soaked, drenched, and shivering, but inside, there is warmth in a thick blanket, dim lights turning nostalgic for childhood days. Days we spent playing in the rain, splashing muddy water, sailing paper boats in little streams, moments spent with family on a veranda, steaming food cooked by Mom, power cuts, candlelight dinners, all sitting together during torrential rain, all back then symbolically reflecting togetherness and joy. The rain stirs up deep emotions, sometimes turning solitude into peace rather than loneliness.


Monsoon is incomplete without special savouryflavours like a steaming cup of tea, crispy pakoras, hot bhutta (roasted corn), spicy samosas, and more. Every bite seems tastier when enjoyed with a view of rainfall. Alongside soulful conversations with family and loved ones, it reminds us that the monsoon is not just about showers, but it is about togetherness. It brings back memories of childhood, a sense of freedom and joy, a time when life was simpler and carefree.


Nature celebrates with lush greenery, rivers swelling, trees dancing to the breeze, and the sky with an ever-changing mood. Everything comes alive, reminding us of the power and beauty of nature. It invites us to feel deeply and find beauty in every little thing.


Though sometimes chaotic with incessant rain leading to waterlogged roads, power cuts, flash floods, landslides, and traffic disruptions, the monsoon is never dull. It leads to a slower pace of life and more time spent indoors, but teaches us to appreciate simpler pleasures. It is an adventure – a blend of calm and chaos, beauty and mess, joy and discomfort. It reflects life's essential truth that after every drought, there is rain, so there is hope after every crisis. After every struggle, there is healing.


As Mother Earth takes time to be nourished and bloom again, we too need time to grow, bloom, and shine.


In essence, monsoon subtly demands us to slow down and break the maddening cycle of busy life, not by force but by nature's gentle reminder to take a pause, to take a moment, and to remember that life is not only about rushing – it is about savouring.


When our mind slows down, the body heals, and the soul feels alive – all three acts in synchronisation. It is not just a weather change but an invitation to realign with yourself, find joy in the present, and begin again with fresh hopes.


Let this monsoon not just touch and drench the depth of the earth but touch and awaken the depth of the heart and soul. May it embrace us with mindfulness, warmth, compassion, and gratitude, bringing life within us and making us richer in beautiful, soulful memories. Make it an annual celebration of nature, its power, beauty, and rhythm, creating mesmerising memories soaked in wonder.Have a wonderful, exhilarating experience this monsoon!


(The writer is an educator based in Thane.)

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