Quick Comment: Maharashtra govt needs to treat Chirag Shetty and Rohit Sharma equally

When Chirag Shetty returned home to Malad-Goregaon after winning badminton’s team World title, the Thomas Cup in 2022, there was no ticker-tape parade, no felicitation, no acknowledgement, no cash prizes. Not even a hurray tweet, when he and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, beat back the mighty Indonesians. It’s been two years and his feat is yet to register with the Maharashtra state government.

This was in total contrast to the alacrity they showed in honouring Rohit Sharma and three other Maharashtra players who were part of the T20 World Cup triumph. The cricketers deserve to be felicitated and even lavished with 11 crores, because no one can deny their sweat and tears, hard-work and resilience that makes them proud Made in Mumbai products. Also because the Indian cricket team has hardly been winning big titles. This was a good break from years of under-performance. But to stay completely blind to Chirag, who actually wins very often on the Tour and brought home the world team title, is uncaring. Not knowing that the Thomas Cup is a big deal in sport, is ignorance.

Tax-payers are fully entitled to question this showering of huge money on T20 champs, when the state has more pressing requirements of spending on health, education and real grassroots development in sports which can finally bring Olympic medals. And just as well that the photo-ops with cricketers have left Chirag hurt at being unacknowledged. For, he will work towards a gold medal at Paris, which might be slightly tougher to ignore.

Chirag’s father Chandrashekhar Shetty, a restaurant businessman, was specifically told by his friends when his boy had only just started playing badminton, that no one cared for any sport in Mumbai besides cricket. But the lad insisted he would try reaching unconquered heights in doubles badminton, the toughest to make a mark in. He helped India win the Thomas Cup, wheeled in his strolley quietly out of the airport and watched clips of dhols and dancing welcomes for the Telangana shuttlers, including his doubles partner. It took two years for him to say it aloud, but it must’ve hurt.