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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.

Raj steals the show

Uddhav’s reconciliation wish likely to put Raj in quandary

Mumbai: When Raj Thackeray arrived at the NSCI Dome for a joint rally with cousin Uddhav he was fully aware that it was a moment to cement his position in the state politics. True to his nature, Raj did not disappoint the 20,000 strong audience and the political observers.


Raj’s 25-minute-long speech underpinned specific three points. He was not willing for any compromise on the issue of respect to Marathi language from across the society. He appealed the cadre to “react” whenever they see anyone insulting Marathi language and culture. At the same time, he issued a caution against beating any random person over petty issues.


Raj named one Nayan Shah, a Gujarati residing in Shivaji Park, as an example of people who love Marathi despite not having roots in Maharashtra. “He speaks fluent Marathi and listen to Pu. La. Deshpande during his evening walk in Shivaji Park,” Raj said.


Political observers believe that Raj has tried to get closer to the Gujarati community by naming Shah. His choice of example is significant since the MNS workers had slapped a Gujarati speaking shop owner in Mira Road for not conversing in Marathi a couple of days ago. “If someone raises his hand over insult of Marathi he is unaware whether the person who is insulting is a Gujarati or anyone else,” Raj said.


In a subtle message to Uddhav, Raj recalled a 1999 incident when he was very close to Shiv Sena founder the late Bal Thackeray. There was a stalemate between BJP and Shiv Sena over government formation at that time. “One day, Prakash Jawadekar came to me and requested for a meeting with Balasaheb. Jawadekar said the BJP was willing to make Suresh Jain (an MLA from Jalgaon) the Chief Minister and he wanted me to get Balasaheb’s consent for this proposal. When I told Balasaheb about this proposal he said, ‘The CM of Maharashtra will be a Marathi person only’. Balasaheb gave up the power but did not compromise on the issue of Marathi,” Raj said.


In 1999, the Congress-NCP combine formed the government as the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance failed to reach at any conclusion over power sharing. The Congress-NCP remained in the power for the next 15 years.


Political observers believe that Raj’s reference to this incident was an attempt to remind Uddhav that he was nowhere in the picture when Balasaheb used to take important political decisions. In a way, Raj tried to suggest that should the Shiv Sena (UBT) join hands with the MNS for the upcoming civic polls his (Raj) word should be considered as final when it came to seat sharing.


Senior journalist and former Congress MP Kumar Ketkar disagreed. “I don’t think Raj had any message for Uddhav in this example,” Ketkar said. “It is a known fact that Uddhav was not active in politics in 1999. Raj only reiterated what had happened at that time. It is not a message for Uddhav.”


Uddhav’s plan

The political observers agree that it is Uddhav’s need to join hands with Raj to remain relevant in the state politics. Raj has nothing to lose but if Uddhav could not regain his hold on the cash rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) his political existence will be irrelevant.


Senior journalist Rajesh Kocharekar, however, believes that Uddhav has created a catch-20 situation for Raj by openly expressing a desire for an alliance. “If Raj refutes his proposal he will be painted as pro-BJP and ultimately the killer of Marathi unity. The ball is in Raj’s court now,” Kocharekar said.  

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