IBL has made playing badminton lucrative: Next generation Indian shuttlers

Sai Praneeth

The top tier of young Indian badminton players are thrilled with the recognition they received from Indian industry and the unprecedented windfall that would come their way at the right time in their career courtesy the recently-held Indian Badminton League auction.

K Srikanth, 20-year-old, who was bagged by Awadhe Warriors for a pay cheque of $ 34,000 said here on Thursday, “This is unbelievable. I didn’t expect it (the bidding price). It felt extremely good to know that the franchisees were competing with each other to bid for me.”

The 20-year-old who had stunned world No.4 Boonsak Ponsana in the finals of the Thailand Open Grand Prix last month and hails from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, added, “My parents are very happy that the sport is getting me financial rewards. It will also give me an opportunity to play in a team event.”

Another promising youngster, the 18-year-old doubles player K Maneesha was picked up by Awadhe Warriors for $26,000, six times more than her base price of $4,000. Maneesha, who won the Maldives International Challenge mixed doubles with K Nandagopal in June and the 2010 Commonwealth Youth Games, said, “I am a junior player and never expected to get so much money. The credit goes to Saina (Nehwal), Kashyap bhaiya, Ashwini (Ponnappa) for taking badminton to a height so that all the youngsters like me are also now reaping the benefit. I felt very happy after the IBL auction.”

Pradnya Gadre, amongst the top-10 highest buys in the IBL auction, feels lucky to be picked up by Hyderebad Hotshots for $46,000. The 22-year-old doubles specialist said, “Frankly, I’m extremely happy to be part of the IBL and Hyderabad Hotshots team. It is a great opportunity for the juniors to get to play with international stars. It will be wonderful to be in the same team as Taufik Hidayat, who has been my idol for a long time.”

B Sai Praneeth, 20-year-old, who stunned former Olympic champion Taufiq Hidayat in the latter’s farewell match, was bagged by Krrish Delhi Smashers for $40,000. The talented youngster is excited to be a part of the League and he said, “It’s a huge motivation for a player like me. I was expecting around $20,000, but this was surprising.”

Guru Sai Dutt, the Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 champion, who was picked up by Awadhe Warriors for $40,000, said, “It’s great to be a part of the league which will help badminton and the players to grow. I’m looking forward to play for Awadhe Warriors.”

India’s No.1 men doubles player, Pranav Jerry Chopra from Ludhiana, who was picked up for $36,000 by Mumbai Masters, said, he was “shocked to be picked up for $36,000 by Mumbai Masters. But above all, I’m elated to be in the same team as Lee Chong Wei. It’s a huge boost to us ahead of the World Championship.”

Commenting on the unprecedented benefits for talented young shuttlers, the 32-year-old Valiyaveeti Diju, who became the first Indian mixed doubles pair along with Jwala Gutta to win a Grand Prix title in 2009, said, “The IBL is a great platform and opportunity for all the Indian badminton players to play with international players. Also, it will be a treat to watch Lee Chong Wei in action for all of us.”

The $1-million Indian Badminton League is set to launch on August 14, 2013, with some high-voltage action expected between Krrish Delhi Smashers and Pune Pistons.

The 2013 IBL will feature six franchises and will run for 18 days. Each franchise will host a two-day leg and the League will showcase a grand total of 90 matches, providing broadcasters and in-stadia spectators with more than 100 hours of LIVE “family entertainment” which will also be viewed by a significant international audience.

The top four franchises in the League will clash in the semifinals and the winners will meet in the grand final on August 31, which will be played in Mumbai, for the richest prize money tournament in badminton till now.