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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.

Shinde says he made the common man a superman

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

THE CM PRESENTS A ‘REPORT CARD’ OF HIS GOVERNMENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN LAST TWO AND HALF YEARS

common man

Mumbai: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has launched a scathing attack on the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) accusing them of having an anti-development vision. This bold claim comes ahead of the Assembly polls, where Shinde’s government is seeking re-election. 


Flanked by Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, as well as Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Shinde presented a “report card” highlighting his government’s achievements over the past two years. The report card contrasts the work done by the current Mahayuti government with that of the previous MVA dispensation, showcasing the ruling alliance’s accomplishments


Shinde presented a united front with his Deputies at a joint press conference, a day after the Election Commission announced the state poll schedule. The Assembly polls are scheduled for November 20, with votes being counted on November 23. 


Fadnavis said the seat-sharing discussions among the ruling allies in Maharashtra, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and other parties, are nearing completion. The Mahayuti allies presented a “report card” of the government’s work in the last two years, as Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar accused the opposition of creating a “fake narrative”


The “report card” compared the work done by the previous MVA dispensation and the current Mahayuti government.


Shinde highlighted his government’s achievements over the past two years. The “report card” boasts of significant development projects, including the completion of the high-speed Mumbai-Ahmedabad railway and the Metro project in Mumbai, which were allegedly stalled by the previous MVA government. Additionally, the Mahayuti government claims to have made substantial progress in boosting Maharashtra’s economy, aiming to make it a $1.5 trillion economy by 2047.


“The opposition MVA were working with an anti-development vision, claiming they halted crucial development projects during their tenure. Specifically, Shinde cited the high-speed Mumbai-Ahmedabad railway (bullet train) project and the Metro project in Mumbai, which he said were stalled due to the previous MVA government’s opposition,” the CM said, accusing the opposition of defaming Maharashtra.


Without naming his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray or his son and former minister Aaditya Thackeray, Shinde said the cost of Metro project in Mumbai rose by Rs 14,000 crore as Aarey car shed was opposed due to “bal hatta” (insistence of a child) and arrogance.


All development works, like the high speed Mumbai-Ahmedabad railway (bullet train) project, were stopped by the previous MVA government, he said.


On seat-sharing among the Mahayuti partners, Fadnavis said it (discussion) has reached the final stages, but added the formula cannot be revealed now. It will be revealed only after the talks are completed, he added.


Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, said the opposition was caught off guard by the overwhelming popularity of the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana’, a flagship program launched by the Maharashtra government to provide financial assistance to women.” When the scheme was announced, the initial allocation for the scheme was Rs 10,000 crore, but it was raised to Rs 45,000 crore, he said.


Pawar said 2.5 crore eligible women have received Rs 7,500 each in five months since the scheme was launched.

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