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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.

Urgent Action Needed: Protect India’s Sugar Industry from Global Threats

The global sugar industry appears to be embroiled in a controversy targeting India's cooperative sugar sector, raising concerns about a conspiracy to malign its reputation. This comes shortly after Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening India's sugar industry at a United Nations event commemorating the International Year of Cooperatives.


Despite the Indian sugar industry’s notable strides in recent years—emerging as a major player in global exports and becoming a critical source of livelihood for millions—allegations of worker exploitation and unhygienic practices have surfaced in the international media. A report by the New York Times has amplified these claims, bringing them to global attention. This development demands immediate intervention from the Central Government, as failure to address these accusations could jeopardize an industry with an annual turnover of approximately ₹2 lakh crore, which supports millions of farmers and labourers.


India's Sugar Industry: A Global Leader Under Attack

India is the world's second-largest sugar producer, often competing with Brazil for the top spot. While Brazil has increasingly shifted its focus towards ethanol production, India's sugar exports have dominated global markets in recent years. However, this success has seemingly irked several nations, including Brazil, Australia, Thailand, and Guatemala, leading them to lodge complaints against India at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over alleged export subsidies. Despite this, India has maintained its position without subsidies, showcasing the industry's resilience.


The latest allegations, however, represent a more insidious strategy to undermine India’s sugar industry. Claims of labour exploitation in cooperative sugar factories have been published thrice since April 2024 in the New York Times. The report alleges forced labour, inadequate wages, poor healthcare facilities, and educational neglect for workers’ families. It also mentions disturbing accusations of coercing female workers into undergoing hysterectomies to ensure uninterrupted labour.


Is the Narrative Distorted?

The allegations presented in the New York Times paint a grim picture, but industry insiders argue that they are far from reality. While isolated incidents may warrant investigation, painting the entire cooperative sugar industry as exploitative is an overreach. The report fails to account for welfare initiatives implemented by sugar cooperatives, such as health camps, educational programmes, and ration distribution for workers.


Furthermore, the claims ignore key aspects of the industry's operations. In Maharashtra, for instance, efforts have been made to accommodate the voting rights of migrant workers by adjusting the sugarcane harvesting schedule. Notably, the labour contractors (known as mukadams), and not the sugar factories themselves, are responsible for hiring, harvesting, and transporting labourers. These contractors operate independently, often receiving advance payments from the factories.


In Northern India, many farmers directly manage their own harvesting and transportation processes, further challenging the claim that factories are exploiting workers.


Economic and Strategic Implications

The timing and nature of these allegations suggest a broader agenda. With multinational beverage and food giants like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestlé, and Cadbury relying heavily on sugar supplies from Indian cooperatives, the fallout from such reports could disrupt these critical supply chains. Attempts to discourage these companies from sourcing sugar from India under the pretext of "humanitarian" and "health" concerns could lead to significant economic losses and harm India's reputation on the global stage.


Government's Role

The Indian government must act decisively to counter this narrative. A robust response highlighting the cooperative sugar industry’s contributions and adherence to labour and safety standards is essential. Furthermore, engaging with international organisations and media to clarify India’s position could prevent further damage.


The stakes are high—not just for India’s sugar industry but for millions of farmers and workers whose livelihoods depend on its continued growth. Left unchecked, this campaign could undermine India's achievements in global trade and cooperative development.


It’s time for the Centre to step in and ensure that India’s sugar industry receives the recognition and protection it rightfully deserves.


(The author is a senior journalist based in Kolhapur. Views personal.)

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