top of page

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.

Shadows Dispelled

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

The suspense over Maharashtra’s next chief minister appears to be nearing its end with Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who has helmed the state for over two years, all but paving the way for a BJP candidate to take the top job.


Calling Modi the “head of the family,” Shinde assured the BJP high command of his cooperation in forming the government. His remarks also sought to reassure Shiv Sena loyalists that their influence within the alliance would remain intact, even if the BJP were to lead from the front. Shinde’s remarks should ensure a smooth clearing of the decks for Devendra Fadnavis, the former chief minister who was hitherto Shinde’s Deputy, to helm the state once again.


Either way, the numbers strongly favoured the BJP this time after the saffron party, under Fadnavis’ steely leadership, staged a stunning comeback to snare 132 seats of the 149 seats it fought on to emerge as the dominant force in the Mahayuti coalition.


Shinde’s Shiv Sena performed superbly as well, with its tally of 57 seats exceeding their collective total of the opposition MVA parties who were all but decimated. But the BJP cadres, who drove the alliance’s resounding victory, are eager to see one of their own at the helm— particularly Devendra Fadnavis, the ace strategist.


Shinde’s announcement also underscores his pragmatic leadership. Having taken charge in 2022 after splitting from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, Shinde has built a reputation for grassroots connectivity and welfare initiatives. His efforts have endeared him to rural voters, many of whom actively campaigned for the Mahayuti.


For the BJP, sidelining Shinde outright would risk alienating a dependable ally, especially one who helped shape the alliance’s identity. Yet the political arithmetic and mandate leave little doubt that the chief ministership must rest with the BJP. A delicate balancing act is required—one that consolidates the BJP’s leadership without undermining the Sena’s morale or Shinde’s contributions.


Maharashtra’s electorate has handed the Mahayuti coalition a sweeping mandate, expecting a government that delivers on promises rather than devolves into factional disputes. Whether Shinde assumes a supporting role or retains a position of influence within the administration, his deference to Modi’s decision reinforces the alliance’s unity—a quality that voters will expect to see reflected in its governance.


As the Mahayuti transitions to a new government, it must ensure that its internal decisions do not overshadow the needs of Maharashtra’s citizens. For Shinde’s supporters, his legacy as a transformative leader remains secure, even if he steps aside for a BJP chief minister. For the BJP, the challenge will be to lead with magnanimity, rewarding loyalty while respecting its coalition partners.


Maharashtra’s voters have opted for stability, governance, and a coalition that works. The Mahayuti cannot afford to let power-sharing disputes jeopardize that trust.

Comments

bottom of page