oppn parties Thomas Cup: Momentous Win

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  • India beat Pakistan 3-2 in SAFF Championship. India defeated Pakistan in a closely contested match, having led 3-0 before conceding two late goals. The victory was reported as a significant result for India's second-string side
  • India beat Japan 4-1 to win a record sixth Asian Champions Trophy. India recovered from an early deficit to defeat Japan in the final at Mohali, extending its record as the tournament's most successful men's team
  • The Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre and the Election Commission on a petition challenging Section 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, which grants the CEC and Election Commissioners protection from legal proceedings for acts performed in their official duties. The petition argues that such blanket immunity could leave citizens without an effective remedy for alleged wrongdoing by the Commission
  • The Supreme Court told voters whose names were deleted from Delhi's draft electoral rolls not to be apprehensive about seeking re-enrolment through Form 6, after the Election Commission assured it that such applicants would not be prosecuted merely because their names had appeared in earlier rolls
  • Congress leader Rahul Gandhi opened the party's campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections with an Insaaf rally in Sangrur, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's home district, accusing the AAP government of failing to control drugs, gangster violence and corruption. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge outlined six commitments, including a drug-free Punjab, protection of farmers, employment for young people and action against corruption
  • Rahul Gandhi accused the AAP government of running Punjab through a remote control from Delhi and questioned Bhagwant Mann's ability to tackle drug abuse, making personal allegations about the Chief Minister's conduct during their time together in Parliament
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Thomas Cup: Momentous Win

By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2022-05-16 06:10:38

About the Author

Sunil Garodia The India Commentary view

The Indian Thomas Cup win is as exciting and momentous as the cricket World Cup win under Kapil Dev in 1983. Both were unexpected and achieved through skill, hard work, self-belief and sheer determination. In badminton, India this year had two singles players and one doubles pair that ranked among the best in the world. Lakshya Sen is at number 9 and K Srikanth at number 11 while the doubles pair of S Rankireddy and C Shetty is at number 8. Yet, India has never performed to potential in team events and no one, outside India, gave the team a chance. But in India, there was a buzz that this was our best team in many years and given the current form of the players, they were in with a chance.

That it was not going to be easy was obvious. Malaysia, Denmark, Indonesia, China and Japan are all seasoned Thomas Cup teams and rank much higher than India. But the way the players rallied behind each other, gave their best shot and displayed big match temperament and nerves of steel to come back from the brink in many important matches and win was a treat to watch. Several Indian players ooze talent but their individual brilliance fails in team events. But this team has combined talent with the killer instinct, determination and nerves of steel to come up winners and the best example of this is H S Prannoy who played two outstanding matches in the quarterfinals and the semi-finals, despite being injured and in visible pain, to take India to the finals.

The win has been hailed by all ex-players. Prakash Padukone said that this is our best team while Pullela Gopinath said that the Chinese and the Malaysians would have laughed even five years ago if they were told that India will win the Thomas Cup in 5 years. Truly, this is an achievement that will be remembered for ages and, hopefully, do for badminton in India what the 1983 win did for cricket.