The recent wedding of Indian hockey players Mandeep Singh and Udita Duhan should have been a moment of national celebration.

Two accomplished athletes, dedicated to the country’s sporting pride, tied the knot, yet their union barely created a ripple on social media.

It is a stark reminder of the deep-seated bias in India’s sporting culture—where cricket and Bollywood reign supreme, leaving other sports and their heroes largely ignored.

Had this been the wedding of a cricketer or a film star, social media would have erupted in a frenzy of headlines, hashtags, and grand celebrations.

News portals would have dissected every detail, fan pages would have been abuzz, and brands would have rushed to capitalise on the event. But when it comes to sports like hockey—India’s so-called ‘national sport’—recognition remains abysmally low.

This glaring disparity raises a crucial question: why do we not honour all our athletes equally?

India’s obsession with cricket is no secret. It enjoys an unparalleled fan following, massive corporate sponsorship, and prime-time television coverage.

Meanwhile, hockey—despite its rich legacy and a history of Olympic glories—remains on the sidelines, struggling for visibility.

Hockey players work just as hard, shed just as much sweat, and bring just as much pride to the nation. Yet, their personal and professional milestones often go unnoticed.

The lack of public enthusiasm for Mandeep and Udita’s wedding is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern.

When the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams put up stellar performances at global events, they receive momentary applause, only to be forgotten soon after. This fleeting appreciation pales in comparison to the hero-worship cricketers receive year-round, regardless of their performance.

If India aspires to be a truly great sporting nation, it must shift its cultural narrative. Recognition, encouragement, and celebration should not be reserved for just a few.

The media, brands, and the public must rally behind all sports, ensuring that athletes from every discipline get the respect and limelight they deserve.

Mandeep and Udita’s wedding should have been a high-profile affair, setting an example that all sportspeople are valued equally.

Their achievements on the hockey field have made the country proud, and their personal milestones should be cherished with the same fervour as those in cricket and Bollywood.

As a nation, it is time we corrected this imbalance. Every athlete who wears the Indian jersey, regardless of their sport, deserves to be celebrated.

The day we start valuing all our sporting icons equally is the day India will truly emerge as a powerhouse in the world of sports.

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