Sindhu, Tai top buys
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 26
Delhi Dashers and Ahmedabad Smash Masters will not be part of the fifth edition of the Premier Badminton League (PBL). Ahmedabad’s team defaulted on its payment and so the contract with the league rights owners was terminated. The Delhi team opted out of the league as it felt it was not viable.
Atul Pande, CEO and founder of Sportzlive, PBL’s organisers, said that it was better this way. “The Delhi team decided to opt out as it was not in its interests. The Ahmedabad team is not here because it defaulted on the payments and so we had to terminate its contracts,” Pande told The Tribune.
The drop-outs have reduced the number of teams to seven for the coming edition. “We were not able to replace them and we felt better in this climate to run with the people who are committed to the sport rather than look at investors unless they are really committed,” he added.
Negotiations to get them back or replace the teams were on till Monday night. While Ahmedabad finished seventh with 13 points, Delhi finished last with 6 points in the last season.
The drop-outs have also forced the organisers to rethink on the scheduling of the matches. Less teams would mean less matches spread over 21 days that will be played across four cities —Hyderabad, Lucknow, Bengaluru and Chennai. “The drop-outs make it easier. Now the league will have fewer double-headers in its 21-day schedule,” Pande said.
Sindhu, Tai go for Rs77 lakh
The development comes on a day when the players’ auction was held for Season 5. Reigning world champion PV Sindhu and world No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying fetched top dollar at the auction.
Hyderabad Hunters retained Sindhu for a fee of Rs77 lakh, while the Chinese Taipei star was bought by defending champions Bengaluru Raptors after a bidding war with Pune 7 Aces.
Young doubles star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who won the Thailand Open in August alongside Chirag Shetty, was another of the most ssought-after stars as as he was bought by Chennai Superstarz, formerly Chennai Smashers, for an eye-catching Rs62 lakh.
“I am really happy to be a part of the Chennai team. I have many friends in Chennai and I am looking forward to play there,” Rankireddy said. “Every time we have played here the crowd has been exceptional and to represent them this season will surely be something that I am looking forward to.”
Rankireddy’s partner Shetty has been retained by Pune 7 Aces for Rs15.5 lakh.
Parupalli Kashyap, who has hit some form this year, was bought by Mumbai Rockets for a fee of Rs43 lakh. Another promising talent, Lakshya Sen, who won four titles during his two-month stay in Europe, caught the fancy of the teams. He was bought by the Chennai team for Rs36 lakh.
South Korea’s doubles ace Ko Sung Hyun and Hong Kong’s world No. 24 singles player Lee Cheuk Yiu saw teams fighting for their signatures. Ko was bought by Awadhe Warriors for Rs55 lakh, while Lee was purchased by North Eastern Warriors for Rs50 lakh.
