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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.

Who is the ‘Booster’ that Fadnavis mentions?

CM Devendra Fadnavis with Dy CM Eknath Shinde flags off the trial run and technical inspection of Phase-1 of Mumbai Metro Route-9 on Wednesday. Pic: PTI
CM Devendra Fadnavis with Dy CM Eknath Shinde flags off the trial run and technical inspection of Phase-1 of Mumbai Metro Route-9 on Wednesday. Pic: PTI

Mumbai: Amidst speculations about reunion of the estranged Thackeray and Pawar cousins, Fadnavis’ mention of possible ‘booster’ for the Mahayuti alliance in the state has raised many eyebrows. However, it appears that to know who is likely to be the booster for the ruling alliance, one is likely to have to wait and watch.


Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis flagged off trial run of Mumbai Metro Line 9 from Dahisar to Kashigaon on Wednesday. In his speech after inspecting the newly built elevated road, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, the CM mentioned the ‘Booster’ for the ruling alliance which has led to more speculations. The CM said, “We three in Mahayuti are firmly together and we have set into motion the Development Express. No one can now lay speed breakers on its way. It’s a different thing if anyone wants to give a booster to it, but one thing is sure that there is no space for any speed breaker now.” This statement has now led to speculations about its underlying message.


After the SC decision on local body polls in the state, there has been a sudden increase in the political activities. After Raj Thackeray indicated that he is open to joining hands with Uddhav, Sharad Pawar’s statements fanned speculations on unification of the two factions of the NCP. Also, several local leaders have either joined or are in the process of joining the ruling alliance. On this backdrop Fadnavis’ mention of the ‘booster’ today is being interpreted as an indication of some big leader from the opposition might be joining the ruling alliance.


MNS Chief Raj Thackeray had a long meeting with industries minister Uday Samant on Tuesday. Raj had also had several meetings with DCM Shinde and CM Fadnavis in the recent past. It has also been speculated that he might join hands with the ruling alliance in the local body polls.


On the other hand NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil too is said to be in a queue to join the ruling alliance. Recently he had invited union minister Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate a hostel at his home town Islampur in Sangli district, which had fanned the speculations of him joining the BJP. Also, Sharad Pawar’s recent statements indication possible reunion of the two factions of the NCP, has strengthened the speculation.


On this backdrop, Fadnavis’ mention of the possible “booster” for the ruling alliance has created a new stir in the state politics.


Nobody can hamper development: Fadnavis

Thane: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday targeted the opposition parties, saying nobody can put a speed-breaker in the development works being carried out in the state by the three ruling parties of the Mahayuti government.


Speaking to reporters at Kashigaon, around 20 km from Thane city, he said the Kashigaon-Dahisar metro line is in the final stages of technical testing and will soon be opened to passengers, offering a significant boost to decongesting the Western Express Highway and providing much-needed relief to commuters.


Replying to a question about the Mahayuti allies, he said, "All three parties are together and we are running the state's development express in a speedy manner. No no one can put a speed-breaker in it. If they (opposition) want to give a booster, it is a different thing. There is no room for a speed-breaker here."


Describing metro rail as the "best medium" for urban transport, the CM said, "We have earlier started a few lines up to Andheri, and the launch of this phase will bring a much-need relief to commuters."

He emphasized the goal of achieving "seamless connectivity" along the Western Express Highway, from NS Bose Maidan to Bandra, with work progressing in various phases.


"The good thing about this project is that for the first time in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) a double-decker bridge is also being constructed in this phase. This innovative design will be particularly crucial for decongesting areas like Mira Bhayandar," he said.


Ambitious plans

The CM outlined ambitious plans for further expansion and said, "Soon, travel by metro up to Virar will be possible."


He stressed the importance of integrating various metro rail lines so that people get an end-to-end solution through this medium.


Lauding the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for initiating the project, the CM pledged to accelerate the pace of work.


"Henceforth, we will work with extra speed. This year 50 kilometres and next year 62 kilometres - we have decided to carry out works in such phases," he said.

He said his government was committed to completing the metro network works initiated since 2015.


"The major network which we started will be completed by the end of 2027. This is our aim, due to which people in Mumbai and the MMR will be most benefited for travel," he said.


A bullet train station is coming up near Vadhvan (in Palghar), Fadnavis said.

"We will be required to ensure integration with it. Planning in this regard is underway," he said.


Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik were present on the occasion.

 

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