Badminton Star Chirag Shetty Calls Out Maharashtra Govt's Cricket Favoritism

Chirag Shetty, an Indian badminton star, has expressed his frustration with the Maharashtra Government's preferential treatment towards cricket. He highlighted the disparity in recognition and rewards given to different sports.

On July 5, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde honoured Mumbai-based cricketers Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shivam Dube for their victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. The government announced a cash reward of Rs 11 crore for them.

Chirag Shetty voiced his disappointment over the lack of recognition for his achievements. He and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy played crucial roles in India's historic Thomas Cup win in 2022.

"Thomas Cup is equivalent to winning the World Cup. I was part of the Indian badminton team, which won its maiden title, shocking champions Indonesia in the final. I was the only Maharashtra player in the Indian team," said Chirag Shetty to TOI.

Despite their significant accomplishments, Chirag noted that they did not receive similar recognition. "When the govt can honour World Cup-winning cricket stars, they should have also recognized my efforts. Government should treat any other sport equally," he added.

Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have achieved significant milestones in Indian badminton. They became the first Indian pair to reach World No. 1 in men's doubles earlier this year, holding the top spot for 12 weeks.

The duo currently ranks third but has earned a World Championships bronze in 2022 and an Asian Games gold in men's doubles in 2023. They have also been honoured with the Bharat Khel Ratna for their contributions to the sport.

"I have nothing against cricket. In fact, we all badminton players watched the T20 World Cup final live on TV and celebrated enthusiastically. We are happy and proud about their sensational win against South Africa in the final," Chirag stated.

Lack of Recognition from State Government

Chirag further mentioned that despite their remarkable achievement a couple of years ago, they were not felicitated by the state government or given any cash rewards. "Before 2022, the Indian badminton team had never even reached the semifinals, but we created history by winning the title," he added.

Currently, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are training at the national camp in Hyderabad, preparing for the Paris Olympics 2024. The duo aims to bring further glory to Indian badminton on the global stage and hopes for more equitable recognition of their achievements in future.