IBL inaugural season preview – Part 1: Hyderabad Hotshots, Awadhe Warriors, Banga Beats

Hu Yun

3. Banga Beats

Key facts:

Owners: BOP Group - Better Option Propmart Pvt. Ltd or BOP Group are India’s leading real estate consultants with presence across India, Dubai and Singapore

Chief Coach: Vimal Kumar - Former Olympian & National Chief Coach

Host Stadium: Kanteerva Indoor Stadium

Icon Player: Parupalli Kashyap – India’s top-ranked men’s singles player, winner of 2012 Indian GP

Home to Prakash Padukone, Bangalore has been a hub for nurturing talent at the legendary player’s Badminton Academy. Some of the finest Indian players have emerged from the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, including former All-England champion and current India coach P Gopichand, Aparna Popat and current players like Ajay Jayaram.

Team Composition

With a strong and balanced line-up, Banga Beats is a strong contender at the inaugural IBL. The franchisee boasts of two of the finest men’s singles players in Parupalli Kashyap and world number 6 Hu Yun of Hong Kong, upcoming women’s singles star Tai Tzu Ying, Spanish player Carolina Marin, and former world number 1 in men’s doubles Carsten Mogensen.

There is also some upcoming home talent in the team in the form of Aparna Balan, Arvind Bhatt, Akshay Dewalkar, Aditya Prakash, J Meghna and Daniel Farid.

Strengths: Men’s Singles and Doubles

The men’s singles will be played by Kashyap and Hu Yun, and Banga Beats will expect both of them to win all their matches, including those against quality opponents.

In Mogensen, the team has one of the best men’s doubles players in the world at the moment. He is likely to be paired with Akshay Dewalkar in the team’s matches, and it’ll be interesting how the Indo-Danish combo fares in the competition.

Analysis of Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles

Coach Vimal Kumar will have to choose between Tai Tzu Ying and Carolina Marin to represent the team in the women’s singles. Bangalore girl Aparna Balan is expected to play in the mixed doubles games, most probably alongside Mogensen.

Tournament schedule:

vs Mumbai Masters – August 15

vs Awadhe Warriors – August 18

vs Pune Pistons - August 23

vs Krrish Delhi Smashers – August 25

vs Hyderabad Hotshots – August 27

Conclusion

The team looks very strong on paper, and its fortunes in the competition will depend largely on the performances in the men’s singles and doubles matches. A good show from the women and mixed doubles will be a bonus for the team. If the team plays to its potential, it should be in the reckoning for a spot in the semi-finals.

Read part two of the preview covering Krrish Delhi Smashers, Pune Pistons and Mumbai Masters here.