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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.

Will use full spectrum of power: Pak envoy issues nuclear threat to India



Amid rising tensions after last month’s deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia has issued a sharp warning to India, stating that Islamabad would respond with the “full spectrum of power” — including nuclear weapons — if New Delhi carries out any military action.


Speaking to Russian media outlet RT, Ambassador Muhammad Khalid Jamali claimed that "leaked documents" indicated India was planning targeted strikes inside Pakistan. He also warned that a conflict appeared “imminent.”


His comments come at a time when India continues to raise Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism through diplomatic channels and seeks international backing to hold Islamabad accountable for sheltering terror groups.


"The frenzy media of India and the irresponsible statements coming out from that side has compelled us. There are some other leaked documents whereby it has been decided to strike some areas of Pakistan. So, that makes us to feel that this is going to happen and it's imminent," he said.

"When it comes to India and Pakistan, we don't want to get involved into this debate of numerical strength. We will use the full spectrum of power - both conventional and nuclear," he said.


Jamali emphasized that Pakistan’s military, with the support of its people, would respond with the “full spectrum of power.”


Tensions in Pakistan have remained high over a possible Indian retaliation after Pakistan-backed militants carried out an attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran valley near Pahalgam on April 22.


The threat follows a provocative statement made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a Geo News interview on Friday. He warned of striking any infrastructure India might build on the Indus River in violation of the treaty. “Certainly, if they attempt to build any kind of structure, we will strike it,” Asif said, also adding that “aggression is not just about firing cannons or bullets — blocking or diverting water is also a form of aggression that could lead to deaths from hunger and thirst.”


On Saturday, Pakistan’s military also conducted a test launch of the Abdali surface-to-surface missile, which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and has a range of 450 kilometres. The army stated the launch demonstrated “operational readiness.”


Earlier, Pakistani minister Hanif Abbas had also issued a nuclear threat, saying missiles such as Ghori, Shaheen, and Ghaznavi — along with 130 nuclear warheads — are "kept only for India."


He warned that if India moves to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and limit Pakistan's water supply, it should prepare for a "full-scale war."


Also on Saturday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad had shown a "responsible and measured" response to India following the Pahalgam attack, while denying any Pakistani involvement in the incident that left 26 people dead. Speaking with Turkiye’s Ambassador in Islamabad, Sharif claimed India had provided no evidence and rejected Pakistan’s proposal for an international investigation.


Following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam — which killed at least 26 civilians, including a Nepalese tourist and a local pony guide — India has taken several strong measures after confirming links to Pakistan-based terror outfits.

Citing ongoing "sustained cross-border terrorism," India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, the 1960 water-sharing agreement with Pakistan. This opens the possibility of restricting or diverting Indus River waters flowing into Pakistan, potentially affecting millions.


India has also revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals and ordered those present in the country, including those with medical visas, to leave.

In response, Pakistan threatened to end all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been downgraded, and all backchannel talks have ceased amid worsening ties.


India has further issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), blocking its airspace to all aircraft associated with Pakistan.


Additionally, the Indian government has imposed a total ban on all imports and transit of goods from Pakistan, including those typically allowed. The restriction covers all Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft — both civilian and military — and will remain in effect until the early morning of May 24, per the current NOTAM.

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