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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.

Sugar price to play a role in most of Western Maharashtra

Delay in Minimum Support Price by Central Government poses risks for sugar industry; political fallout anticipated


Kolhapur: With the onset of November 1, the sugar season commences across India, triggering the perennial battle over sugarcane prices and creating a tense atmosphere during Diwali. In recent years, the central government has tied the sugar industry to ethanol economics, which had temporarily alleviated disputes over sugarcane prices by bolstering sugar exports. However, the ongoing delay in announcing an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for sugar has escalated tensions between sugar factory owners and farmers.


If the government fails to act promptly, this conflict is expected to intensify, with significant implications for the upcoming assembly elections in western Maharashtra region, the heart of the sugar industry.

The politics in western Maharashtra is directly linked to the sugar industry. The suage barons in the districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Satara, Pune and Ahmednagar are the dominant politicians at the local level.


To address instability in the sugar sector, the Modi government has implemented several initiatives, including support for ethanol production and low-interest seed capital. While these measures have been beneficial, the critical issue remains the minimum support price for sugar. The MSP is essential for ensuring stability in the sugar market. Currently, the MSP for sugarcane is set, but there is no corresponding protection for sugar prices, leading to a distorted economic landscape. In 2019, the government established a minimum support price of 3,100 per quintal for sugar, enforcing restrictions on sales below this threshold. While this was welcomed by the industry, there has been no increase in the MSP in the past six years. Meanwhile, the fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane has seen annual hikes, further destabilising the industry.


As the new sugar season approaches, farmers’ organisations are gearing up for negotiations. The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, led by former MP Raju Shetti, is set to hold its annual sugarcane conference to outline demands. This year, farmers are seeking ₹3,750 per ton for sugarcane. Despite a surge in sugar exports and ethanol production over the last four years, last year’s restrictions on exports and ethanol output have dampened prospects, increasing the urgency for a rise in the MSP for sugar.

While the central government has tentatively acknowledged these demands, discussions between representatives of sugar factory owners and government officials have yet to yield concrete decisions.

The Western India Sugarcane Growers Association (WISMA) has expressed its inability to commence the season amidst this indecision. This delay threatens the economic viability of the sugar industry and could further inflame tensions between factory owners and farmers, with serious political ramifications on the horizon.

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