Badminton shows up cricket in India

New Delhi – India’s historic first Thomas Cup crown was splashed across front pages Monday with some people saying it can be a turning point for badminton much like the country’s maiden cricket World Cup title in 1983.

Coming in as underdogs against 14-time champions Indonesia, a ruthless India won the final of the men’s team championship on Sunday in Bangkok to propel badminton to a rare place on centre stage in the cricket-crazy nation.

World No 11 Kidambi Srikanth defeated Jonatan Christie to wrap up a 3-0 victory and trigger wild celebrations in the Indian camp as their players stormed the court with the national flag.

“Team India scales the peak,” read the headline in The Indian Express.

“Our Highness On Court,” said the Hindustan Times.

“An historic achievement and a massive moment for Indian badminton,” Virat Kohli wrote on Twitter.