Badminton

KKR's Angkrish Raghuvanshi Mocks Saina Nehwal, Sparking Debate on Sports InequalityKolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has ignited a heated debate on sports inequality in India after mocking badminton star Saina Nehwal on social media. The controversy erupted after Nehwal claimed that sports like badminton, tennis, and basketball require greater physical exertion than cricket, while criticizing fans for prioritizing cricket over other sports.In a now-deleted post on social media, Raghuvanshi took a jab at Nehwal, writing, "Let's see how she goes when Bumrah bowls 150k's bumper at her head." Nehwal responded indirectly, asserting that star pacer Jasprit Bumrah would struggle to handle her smash."How will you become Virat at that level? How will you become Rohit Sharma? So many players have to become like them. They can't. Only a few of them are like that. But I just feel that it's more of a skill-based sport. And bowlers, I agree. I won't die there. Why would I face Jasprit Bumrah anyways? If I had been playing for 8 years maybe I would have answered Jasprit Bumrah," Nehwal said on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast."If Jasprit Bumrah plays badminton with me maybe he won't be able to take my smash. We should not fight with ourselves in our own country for these things. That's what I want to say. Every sport is best in its place. But I want to say give value to other sports as well. Otherwise, where will we get sporting culture from? And cricket, Bollywood will always be our focus," added the 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist.Nehwal also highlighted the disparity in facilities and support between cricket and other sports in India, contributing to the country's struggles to win medals at the Olympics.Raghuvanshi, who made his IPL debut in 2024 and had a successful season with KKR, has since apologized for his comments. However, the incident has sparked a wider discussion about the need for greater recognition and support for non-cricket sports in India.

KKR's Angkrish Raghuvanshi Apologizes for Controversial Comment on Saina NehwalKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batsman Angkrish Raghuvanshi has issued an apology for his controversial comment directed towards Indian badminton icon Saina Nehwal. The incident occurred in the context of a broader discussion surrounding the recognition and rewards for athletes across different sports in India.Following India's victory in the ICC T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a substantial cash prize for the team members. However, the Maharashtra government's decision to award cash rewards specifically for their state cricketers drew criticism from prominent Indian badminton player Chirag Shetty.Echoing a similar sentiment, Saina Nehwal expressed her concerns about the disproportionate attention and recognition that cricket receives compared to other sports in India. She highlighted the consistent performances and achievements of athletes in other sports, such as badminton, wrestling, and boxing.Reacting to Nehwal's comments, Raghuvanshi posted a controversial remark on social media, suggesting that she would struggle to face fast bowling from Jasprit Bumrah. The comment drew widespread criticism, prompting Raghuvanshi to delete his post and issue an apology."I'm sorry everyone, I meant my remarks as a joke, looking back I think it was a really immature joke. I realize my mistake and I sincerely apologize," Raghuvanshi said.The incident has sparked a debate about the need for greater recognition and support for athletes in non-cricket sports in India. Critics argue that the dominance of cricket in the media and public consciousness has led to a lack of appreciation for other sports and their athletes.