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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.

Term Life Insurance - Why and How Much?

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Term Life Insurance

"Jo bachchon se kare pyaar, woh term insurance ko kaise kare inkaar!" – If you love your family, term life insurance is indispensable. Securing your loved ones financially in case of an untimely demise is crucial. Term insurance offers this protection at an affordable rate.


Term Insurance vs. Insurance + Investment Plans

Term insurance is a straightforward efficient type of life insurance. Unlike other policies that merge investment opportunities with life coverage, term insurance focuses solely on offering financial protection. Insurance + Investment plans like endowments, traditional policies don’t beat inflation and offer low returns (whether private insurers or LIC). Opting for term life insurance with mutual funds proves to be a more advantageous choice.

For example, a healthy individual in their 30s can obtain `1 crore coverage for as little as `15,000-`20,000 annually. This makes term insurance one of the most affordable solutions to safeguard your family's financial future.


Do You Need Term Insurance?

Consider term insurance if:

You have dependents (spouse or parents).

You want to secure your children’s education or lifestyle.

You have outstanding loans (home, car, or personal loans).


How Much Term Insurance Do You Need?

To determine the right amount of coverage, you should:

Step 1 - Consider family expenses: First, assess your family’s current annual expenses. Let’s say your family spends `10 lakhs annually. If your goal is to provide for them for the next 15 years, you would need a minimum of `1.50 crore just to cover these basic living expenses.

Step 2 - Account for loans: Next, factor in any outstanding debts. Many families are burdened with home loans, car loans, or personal loans. Without term insurance, your family would be left to handle these repayments. If you have a home loan of `35 lakhs and a personal loan of `5 lakhs, you should add `40 lakhs to your required coverage. So, your total amount is now `1.90 crore.

Step 3 - Secure future of children: Whether it’s college or overseas education, these costs can be high. More children, higher the cost. For example, if you estimate that your children’s education will cost `50 lakhs, you would add this to your coverage needs. At this stage (continuing above example), you’re looking at `2.40 crore.

Step 4 - Consider your dependents: If your spouse or parents are financially dependent on you, it’s essential to include their living expenses. Estimating this can vary depending on how long they might need financial support. If you feel that in your absence you would want to leave them (parents and spouse) with `20 lakhs, you should now be looking at around `2.60 crore in total coverage.

Step 5 - Adjust for Inflation: Finally, inflation will erode the value of money over time. To ensure your family has enough to cover rising costs, it’s wise to add an inflation buffer at each of the above steps (as necessary).


Conclusion

Life is unpredictable, but your family’s financial future doesn’t have to be. Whether it's paying off loans, covering living expenses, or securing your children’s education, term insurance offers peace of mind and security for your loved ones when you’re not around.

(The writer is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal.)

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