'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The league format in badminton has finally gained ground in India. Following the success of the state IPL-style leagues in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and the announcement of the Indian Badminton League, a league for amateur players is set to begin on April 21.
Called ‘The Great Badminton Premier League’, the event is being organised by the team that initiated the successful ‘The Great Indian Squash League’ over the last year, and is targeted at competitors from schools, colleges, residential societies and corporate organisations.
Former national squash player and international referee Vikas Sharma, who was part of the team that organised the squash league, said the model would be replicated in badminton. “We ran the squash league successfully over 1-1/2 years,” he said. “It was one of the parents who suggested we start a badminton league as well. Badminton is the first sport for any player – several of our squash players played badminton first. We’ll have 16 teams, to be divided into two or four pools, and matches will be played in round-robin format. The league will run through the year.”
Each team will have two doubles, and although the league is expected to attract mainly amateurs, Sharma says professional players are welcome too. The squash league apparently has several national players taking part. All matches will take place at Siri Fort, the venue of the Commonwealth Games badminton tournament. “We want the league to take place through the year,” says Sharma. “In a tournament, the event is over within a week, but with a league, the engagement lasts longer.”
Sharma does not have big ambitions for the league yet, being content with engaging as many players as possible, but he doesn’t rule out a bigger, pan-India edition in future. “We have no ambitions… we’d like the corporates to come in and support the players,” he says. “But if something works out, why not? We have got enquiries from teams in Maharashtra, Bangalore, Chandigarh.”
The squash league has 24 teams divided in two divisions (first division and premier), and each edition of the league is held over four Sundays (called ‘Super Sundays’), all within six weeks. The time between two editions is used to update the rankings. “It’s very intense and competitive,” says Sharma. “People initially don’t understand the concept of a round-robin, but once they play it, they understand its value. Every Sunday you get to play three matches… we’re using the same format in badminton too.”
