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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.

Silicon Bonds

As global chip wars intensify, India and the Netherlands deepen ties in a critical technological frontier.

Despite Netherlands’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Caspar Veldkamp’s India visit lasting barely 26 hours, it signified more than the routine diplomacy of a first-time official tour. For the Netherlands, more than just another European trading partner, is a critical player in the global semiconductor industry. It is home to ASML, the world’s only producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, essential for making advanced chips. Against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions in the semiconductor race, India’s move to strengthen ties with the Dutch is both timely and strategic.


For decades, India and the Netherlands have shared a robust relationship, rooted in trade, investment and historical ties that date back to the 17th century when the Dutch East India Company was active in Indian ports. Today, the Netherlands is India’s fourth-largest foreign direct investor and one of its most reliable economic partners in Europe. But this visit marks a shift towards a more high-tech partnership which would position India as a major hub for semiconductor manufacturing and research.


The announcement that India and the Netherlands will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on semiconductors in 2025 signals the growing convergence of interests. India, under its ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ initiatives, has been aggressively courting semiconductor investments, keen to establish itself as an alternative to China and Taiwan in the global supply chain. The Netherlands, with its cutting-edge expertise in chipmaking machinery and microelectronics, is a natural partner in this endeavour.


The urgency of semiconductor self-reliance has never been more pronounced. The global chip war, triggered by US-China tensions, export restrictions and the quest for technological supremacy, has left nations scrambling to secure their semiconductor supply chains. The United States has imposed sweeping bans on China’s access to advanced chips and manufacturing technology, effectively cutting Beijing off from Dutch-made EUV lithography machines. Washington has lobbied its allies, including the Netherlands, to align with its stance on restricting China’s chip ambitions. In this fragmented landscape, India emerges as a stable, democratic alternative for semiconductor production.


This fact was acknowledged by Veldkamp when he called India a “safe place” for semiconductor and critical technology manufacturing.


Europe, too, is recalibrating its approach to economic and technological partnerships. The European Union’s ‘Chips Act’ aims to reduce reliance on Asian manufacturing hubs (China and Taiwan) and India, positioned as a rising semiconductor player, fits neatly into the EU’s diversification strategy.


The proposed India-Netherlands MoU aligns with the broader India-EU relationship, which has seen renewed momentum in recent years. Trade negotiations between New Delhi and Brussels have intensified, with a focus on technology transfers, digital trade and industrial cooperation.


For India, partnering with the Netherlands could be a gateway to deeper engagement with Europe’s tech ecosystem. Dutch expertise in semiconductor R&D, along with India’s growing prowess in chip design and manufacturing incentives, could create a symbiotic relationship that strengthens both nations’ positions in the global semiconductor race. ASML’s technology, though heavily restricted due to US-led controls, remains crucial for future collaborations in semiconductor innovation. While India may not yet be a player in high-end chip fabrication, strategic partnerships with Dutch firms could accelerate its ambitions to build a robust semiconductor supply chain.


However, the semiconductor industry requires substantial capital investment, skilled labour and uninterrupted access to raw materials - factors that India is still working to refine. The success of the India-Netherlands partnership will depend on New Delhi’s ability to provide a conducive environment for chipmakers, as well as the Netherlands’ willingness to deepen technological cooperation without geopolitical constraints.


The global semiconductor war today is no longer just about technology but about alliances, supply chain security and economic resilience. By forging stronger ties with the Netherlands, India is not just securing its chip future but also announcing its intent to be a key player in the world’s next industrial revolution.

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