One of the many reasons why badminton has climbed up the ladder of popularity in India is the Premier Badminton League. While the first season was not so successful, a complete change in the appearance and feel of the tournament in the 2nd season ensured a huge success.
Now, we are all geared up for the third season to kick-off with the advent of next year. The upcoming edition promises to be as promising and as enthralling as the previous edition. The sport has become immensely popular amongst the common people of the country, especially after the success at the Rio Olympics.
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For those, who are still looking for reasons to watch the Premier Badminton League, we present five reasons that will make you not want to miss any of the action.
#5 New more thrilling format
This year’s edition promises to be more thrilling with the implementation of the new format. Each of the best of three games will be fought over only 11 points, thus in effect, reducing the time of the match and making them more exciting.
Shuttlers will have to be more careful in regard to losing early points as the matches will not be played in the usual format of 21 points. As Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin said, “It is going to be a very tough format. As each game is only for 11 points, we will have to focus on each point. And, this will surely change everyone’s strategies and the way they approach the game.”
Even PV Sindhu expressed her views a few days back when she said, “The shorter format of the game will mean that you can’t give away leads of four or five points. It will be very difficult to come back into a game then.”
Most of the players have never played in this format before and it will be interesting to see how each of them adapts. The matches will definitely be played at a faster speed and be more thrilling for us spectators.
#4 A chance to witness some of the sport’s legends in India
The league presents an opportunity to watch the best shuttlers around the world, some of whom are legends in their own right, from up close. Other than the Indian superstars, the PBL boasts numerous top players from around the world.
While India hosts only one Superseries tournament, we rarely get the opportunity to watch so many superstars of the game in action from up close. The likes of Carolina Marin, Jan O Jorgensen, Tan Wee Kiong, among others will be turning out for the respective franchises. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for badminton enthusiasts of the country.
Moreover, Lee Yong Dae, the South Korean legendary doubles player, will break his retirement to play for the Mumbai Rockets at the PBL. Dae retired after winning the Korean Superseries doubles event at home, his 43rd Superseries title. He is one of the best that there ever was, ever is, ever will be.
It is an opportunity one should take with both hands as who knows when Dae will return to court, if ever, again.
#3 A chance to see how the youngsters from India perform
It is most certainly India’s golden age in badminton. While the likes of Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth have already made a name for themselves in the International circuit, several other youngsters are making waves with their outstanding performances.
As many as five male shuttlers, apart from Kidambi Srikanth, are currently in the world top 50. Four of them, HS Prannoy, B Sai Praneeth, Sourabh Verma and Sameer Verma are under the age of 24. Their performances have been impressive over the past 12 months.
Most recently, Sameer Verma created a lot of uproar after making a Superseries final appearance at the Hong Kong Open after defeating a number of top ranked players in the preliminary rounds. Even Siril Verma, who is the junior world number one badminton player, is someone to watch out for.
The young Indian players have the opportunity to rub shoulders with the best in the world and they will be hoping to give their best, We, the fans, have the opportunity to witness the future of the sport in the country at the PBL.
#2 Saina Nehwal’s chance to announce her return to top form
India’s medal hopes from badminton at the Rio Olympics were pinned on Saina Nehwal, especially after her triumph at the Australian Open Superseries in June. However, it did not exactly turn out how one would have expected. Saina suffered a serious knee injury that ended her hopes of emulating the bronze at the London Olympics in 2012.
While India still went on to win a medal at the Olympics, courtesy PV Sindhu, Saina was left in the background. Her injury required a subsequent surgery that forced her out of the court for three months.
Nonetheless, she has made a successful recovery from the injury and returned to court at the China Open. A couple of quarter-final appearances since her return does not exactly suit a player of her stature and fans will be hoping that she will return to her very best at the soonest.
Naturally, the upcoming PBL could be her chosen stage to regain some much-needed match fitness just before the new season commences. Who knows, maybe Saina will steal the show once more at the PBL just like she did three years back.
#1 The PV Sindhu vs Carolina Marin rematch
The final match of the women’s singles badminton at Rio Olympics sent the TRPs in India sky-rocketing with a record viewership of 17 million. This particular hotly contested match, which was worthy of a final, spurred the popularity of badminton in the country.
Sadly, for all Indian fans, Carolina Marin triumphed over India’s own PV Sindhu to win the gold medal while Sindhu brought home the silver. However, all badminton fans can look forward to another high-octane fixture between the two at the upcoming PBL.
With Carolina Marin being roped in for Hyderabad Hunters and PV Sindhu representing the Chennai Smashers there is a high likelihood of the two facing each other at some stage. More than the fans, the Olympic finalists themselves are awaiting a fixture with utmost eagerness.
"The final at Rio was a tight contest. Sindhu is a good attacking player. I look forward to playing her again. I am sure it will be interesting," Marin had said earlier.
Sindhu had replied, "I am sure she will enjoy her stint in India. I would like her to come home to relish home-made biryani."
The mouth-watering fixture will be one the main reason for watching PBL this season.
