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Continuing our preview of the Vodafone Indian Badminton League, we now look at the teams from Mumbai, Pune and Delhi.
4. Mumbai Masters
The owners of the Mumbai Masters team, coming from cricket, movies and the industry, perfectly exemplify what the city is all about – cricket, movies and money. The Mumbaikers, who love their home teams, will be set to support the Mumbai Masters in their quest for glory in the IBL. What could be more ideal for the home fans than the Masters winning the IBL in the final, which will be held in the city on August 31.
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Key facts:
Owners: Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, popular film star Nagarjuna and business tycoon V Chamundeshwarnath
Chief Coach: Tey Seu Bock - Former national coach of Malaysian badminton team, and current coach of Lee Chong Wei
Host Stadium: Sardar Vallabh Patel Stadium, NSCI
Icon Player: Lee Chong Wei – world number 1 men’s singles player
The owners of the Mumbai Masters team, coming from cricket, movies and the industry, perfectly exemplify what the city is all about – the cricket, movies and money. The Mumbaikers, who love their home teams, will be set to support the Mumbai Masters in their quest for glory in the IBL. What could be more ideal for the home fans than the masters winning the IBL in the final, which will be held in the city on August 31.
Team composition
The owners did a good job in the auctions in assembling a strong singles team. World number one Lee Chong Wei was picked up for an amount of $135000, and German singles player Marc Zwiebler and current All England Open champion Tine Baun were picked to complete an impressive unit of singles players. Vladimir Ivanov was purchased to complete the overseas quota, and the Indians Pranav Chopra, Siki Reddy, Manu Attri, PC Thulasi, Sumeet Reddy and Rasika Raje complete the team.
Strengths: Men’s and Women’s Singles
Lee Chong Wei will be expected to win all his games without breaking much sweat, and in Marc Zwiebler, Mumbai have found an ideal second singles player for a bargain price of $15000.
Tine Baun has retired from international sport after achieving her dream of winning the All England Open, and might be a bit rusty because of not playing actively. However, she has enough class and talent to see off her opponents and give the team some crucial victories in the women’s singles.
Analysis of Men’s and Mixed Doubles
Vladimir Ivanov could turn out to be an excellent buy for the team. Ranked number 14 in the doubles team rankings in the world, he is likely to play both men’s doubles (with Manu Attri) and mixed doubles (with Siki Reddy) for Mumbai Masters. The two doubles matches in a tie for Masters might well be decided by the form of Ivanov.
Tournament schedule:
vs Banga Beats – August 15
vs Pune Pistons – August 17
vs Krrish Delhi Smashers – August 20
vs Hyderabad Hotshots- August 22
vs Awadhe warriors– August 24
Conclusion
Having a very strong team, the Mumbai Masters are surely one of the main contenders for the title crown. Lee Chong Wei and Ivanov will look to win their games in singles and doubles respectively, and Zwiebler and Baun will be expected to pitch in with some important wins too. If the team plays to its potential potential, it shouldn’t face too much problem reaching the knockout stages or even the final, which will be played at its home-ground.
Ashwini Ponnappa is the Pune Pistons’ star player
5. Pune Pistons
Pune is considered to be the birthplace of badminton. In fact for long, badminton was referred to as the “Poona Game”. As per some accounts, the British soldiers, who used to play the sport in Pune, took the game back with them on their return to Gloucestershire County. The Duke of Beaufort from the town of badminton actively promoted the game, and the sport was therefore called “Badminton” as a salute to his contribution. The city of Pune has produced India’s first badminton icon Nandu Natekar, who was the first Indian to win an international tournament outside the country.
Key facts:
Owners: Burman family – Owners of the Dabur group. Burman family also owns a stake in the Kings XI Punjab IPL team and Mumbai Magicians team in the Hockey India League
Chief Coach: Nikhil Kanetkar – Represented India in the 2004 Olympics
Host Stadium: Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Badminton Hall, Balewadi
Icon Player: Ashwini Ponnappa – Bronze medallist in women’s doubles at 2011 BWF World Championship; gold medallist in women’s doubles in 2010 Commonwealth Games
Team Composition
The owners did a good job in the auction and have compiled a well balanced team. Indian star Ashwini Ponnappa is the icon player in the team, which also has top women’s singles player Juliane Schenk, Viatnamese men single’s star Tien Minh Nguyen, seasoned doubles players Joachim Fischer and Wee Kiong Tan. Apart from Ponnappa, the Indian contingent also comprises of Arun Vishnu, Anup Sridhar, Saurabh Verma, Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas.
Strengths: Men’s and Women’s Singles, Mixed Doubles
World number seven Tien Minh Nguyen has been in top form recently and will be a potent force for all other teams to deal with. Saurabh Verma is likely to be the other men’s singles player, and he might have to bring out some inspired performances to win his matches.
In the women’s singles department, Juliane Schenk looks set to have a good tournament. Joachim Fischer is likely to partner Ashwini Ponnappa in mixed doubles, and the Indo-Danish pair will use all their experience to do well.
Analysis of Men’s Doubles
Wee Kiong Tan, who is world number 10 in men’s doubles, is likely to be partnered by one among Rupesh Kumar, Sanave Thomas and Arun Vishnu. It’ll be imperative for the Indian player who plays in men’s doubles to complement the Malaysian well in the games, if they are to win against some tough competition from other teams.
Tournament schedule:
vs Krrish Delhi Smashers – August 14
vs Mumbai Masters – August 17
vs Hyderabad Hotshots – August 19
vs Banga Beats – August 23
vs Awadhe Warriors – August 26
Conclusion
The star players (Nguyen, Schenk, Fischer/Ponnappa) will be expected to win their matches. The second men’s singles (Verma) is a bit of a concern, while the coach will look to get the men’s doubles combination right. The team looks well balanced and should be able to make it to semi-finals, barring any major hiccups.
Jwala Gutta of Krrish Delhi Smashers
6. Krrish Delhi Smashers
Boasting of a rich legacy in the sport, Delhi’s badminton courts have been the place where many Indian internationals have honed their skills. The city is home to Dinesh Khanna, Asian Games gold medallist, Madhumita Bisht, who has won bronze at the Asiad, and several other players.
Key facts:
Owners: Krrish Group – Business conglomerate with presence in field of distillery, breweries, construction and real estate sectors.
Chief Coach: Rashid Sidek - Former world number 1 Malaysian player
Host Stadium: DDA Badminton & Squash Stadium – Siri Fort
Icon Player: Jwala Gutta – Bronze medallist in women’s doubles at 2011 BWF World Championship; Gold medallist in women’s doubles in 2010 Commonwealth Games
Team Composition
After opting to sign Jwala Gutta as their icon player, the Smashers shrewdly added V Diju (Gutta’s former mixed doubles partner) to the team as well. Wing Ki Wong was signed to be the team’s main men’s singles player, but an injury meant he had to withdraw and the team replaced him with Malaysian Daren Liew. Sai Praneeth is likely to be the other men’s singles representative, while young Thai Nichaon Jindapon will play the women’s singles. The Malaysian duo of Tan Boon Heong and Koo Kien Keat will form the men’s doubles team. The Indian contingent of Arundhati Panthawane, HS Prannoy and Prajakta Sawant complete the team.
Strengths: Men’s and Mixed Doubles
The world number 2 pair of Heong and Keat is one of the strongest men’s doubles teams in the competition, and with them being a regular pair, they will know each other’s game and should complement each other very well.
The Diju-Gutta parternship should do well in mixed doubles, with the duo having played together with reasonable success before.
Analysis of Men’s and Women’s Singles
The team will miss Wing Ki Wong, though Liew is a good replacement signing. The other men’s singles player, Sai Praneeth, has recorded some victories over top players, and will back himself to beat them again in the tournament.
Thai Jindapon might be seen as a weak link in the team, though she’s been doing well off and is currently enjoying her highest ever world ranking.
Tournament schedule:
vs Pune Pistons - August 14
vs Hyderabad Hotshots – August 17
vs Mumbai Masters – August 20
vs Awadhe Warriors – August 22
vs Banga Beats – August 25
Conclusion
Wing Ki Wong’s absence will surely be felt and might impact the team’s quest for a spot in the knockout stage. A lot now depends on the doubles teams (both men and mixed), as they will need to win almost all their matches for the team to progress to the semi-finals.
The team is still well balanced and capable of beating anyone on their day. An inspired show from the players will take them to the later stages of the IBL.
