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...

min read

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.

Shiv Sena accuses NCP of playing the 2014 game

Correspondent
Nov 27, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Mumbai: While it is getting clear that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is unlikely to be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ramdas Kadam, a senior Shiv Sena leader, has accused the NCP of playing the same game with it that it had played about a decade back to bring down the Shiv Sena’s bargaining power.

The NCP, however, has sharply retorted back saying that the Shiv Sena leaders should avoid statements that would create divide between the Mahayuti alliance.

One may remember, that after the BJP and Shiv Sena contested assembly elections separately and BJP got 122 seats, which were not enough to prove majority and the Shiv Sena with 64 members were unwilling to join hands with the BJP, the NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had declared unilateral support to the BJP to form government in the state. BJP then formed the government and Shiv Sena joined the government later unwillingly settling for fewer ministries.

According to Ramdas Kadam, a similar game is being played by the NCP even now. While Eknath Shinde is unwilling to make way for Devendra Fadnavis to take over as the Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, on Monday, made it clear that his party would support Fadnavis as the Chief Minster.

This, said Kadam, reduced Shiv Sena’s bargaining power. Which, essentially means, Shinde is left with fewer ways not but to make way for Fadnavis.

Shiv Sena spokesperson and MLC Manisha Kayande said, “We are serious about pushing for Shinde saheb as CM in our feelings and sentiments. He has given an excellent performance in Maharashtra at a huge personal cost. He has worked hard for two years, sleeping barely three hours each night. But, we do not undermine Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. We fully understand the reality and why BJP may not be willing to let go either.”

While, former education minister Deepak Kesarkar, said that his party will abide by the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

While Kadam’s statement clearly means that Shiv Sena won’t go in for leaving the Mahayuti government now, even if Shinde doesn’t get to become Chief Minister again.

In such a scenario, he is likely to settle for inclusion in union cabinet or would happily remain in the state as the DCM under Fadnavis.

1 Comment

Katrin Jess

Jun 13, 2025

You interested in games too? I started using mostbet website and honestly, it’s the most fun I’ve had in ages. Betting on cricket while the match is live gets your heart racing. Plus, the welcome bonus is a sweet touch — I got way more than expected. The site works smooth on both my laptop and phone, and there’s zero sketchy stuff. If you’re tired of basic games and want a bit more excitement and reward, this is exactly what you need.