Chirag Shetty Highlights India's Need for Greater Recognition in Sports
Chirag Shetty's Call for Change in Sports Recognition
New Delhi [India], May 5: Badminton athlete Chirag Shetty expressed on Tuesday that India has yet to earn its status as a true sporting nation. He emphasized that even significant accomplishments, such as winning the Thomas Cup, do not afford badminton players the recognition and celebration they rightfully deserve.
Shetty, who was part of the Indian team that secured a bronze medal at the Thomas Cup 2026 after a semifinal loss to France, shared an Instagram story from his doubles partner, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
Rankireddy posted a group photo of the Indian team upon their return from Denmark, captioning it with, 'Back home now. As usual, no one knows what happened over the past two weeks, and it seems like no one really cares.'
Chirag Shetty reposted this on his Instagram account.
During a press conference held by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Tuesday, Shetty elaborated on Rankireddy's sentiments. He stated that despite the numerous medals won, India still falls short in celebrating its athletes, which prevents it from being recognized as a true sporting nation.
"I believe we are not yet a sporting nation. Yes, we win a lot of medals, but we do not celebrate our athletes as we should," he remarked.
Reflecting on India's victory in the 2022 Thomas Cup against Indonesia, Shetty noted that while badminton enthusiasts celebrated the win, it did not receive the broader recognition it warranted from the public. He expressed disappointment that many were unaware of the significance of this achievement.
"When we won the Thomas Cup last time, many people didn’t share it as much. We did receive a warm welcome in Bombay, and we met the Prime Minister, who hosted us at his residence. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) also honored us. However, the level of celebration from fans was not as high as it should have been. Those who follow badminton understood the importance of the tournament, but the general public did not grasp the magnitude of our success, which saddens me," Chirag explained.
He acknowledged that while government support and initiatives for badminton have improved, a cultural shift is necessary for society to better celebrate sporting achievements.
"There is still much more to be done. The government has made significant strides, especially in the last decade since I began my professional badminton career. However, the government and sports organizations can only do so much. The entire ecosystem needs to start recognizing and celebrating sporting achievements," he added.
India's journey in the Thomas Cup ended with a 0-3 defeat to France in the semifinals held in Horsens, Denmark, resulting in a bronze medal for the 2026 edition. The match was notably affected by the absence of Lakshya, who was sidelined due to an elbow injury sustained during his quarterfinal match against Chinese Taipei. Without their key player, India struggled to compete against the French team, ultimately losing 0-3.