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New Delhi, July 3, 2013: In a significant launch, the Indian Badminton League (IBL) announced the name of the franchise owner for Bangalore here today.
BOP Group, a leading Real Estate Consultant in India, bagged the Bangalore franchise, ‘Banga Beats’, for the $1-million League. The group is set out to mark its debut in sports with IBL, a one-of-a-kind sporting event, an initiative of Badminton Association of India, with Sporty Solutionz as the Commercial Partner.
Speaking on the association, Mr Amit Mavi, Managing Director, BOP Group said, “Badminton has brought huge laurels for India in the past. The IBL has the potential to recapture the interest of the masses through achievements of stars like Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponnappa and others.”
Further, Mr Mavi added, “IBL is an ideal opportunity for us to share our passion and zeal for the sport. With the common vision of recognising and nurturing talent amongst the youth, we believe badminton has much to contribute to the league of talented professionals and offer a wider entertainment avenue to sports fans.”
Speaking on BOP Group’s successful bid to own the Banga Beats franchise, Mr Ashish Chadha, CEO, Sporty Solutionz, the ‘Commercial Partner’ for IBL, said, “I’m delighted to cement IBL’s association with the BOP Group and congratulate them for bagging the Bangalore franchise. BOP has some fantastic plans to promote badminton in India and I’m confident the Group will usher in a new era for the sport with this historic tie-up.”
Speaking on this occasion, Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta, Badminton Association of India President & MP said, “Bangalore is one of the hotbeds for nurturing badminton and it surely deserves a great franchise. BOP Group’s association with the IBL will go a long way in promoting the sport and inspiring millions of youngsters to take up the sport.”
Meanwhile, BOP Group has appointed Olympian and former National Champion U Vimal Kumar as the Chief Coach of Banga Beats. As a player, Kumar won the prestigious French Open in 1983 & 1984 and the Welsh International Open in 1988 & 1991 and also went on to become India’s National Chief Coach. Kumar also represented India at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, and was ranked in the Top-20 in the world. BOP has appointed former International Vijay Lancy, who is also an alumni of the Indian Institute of Management- Calcutta, as the CEO of Banga Beats.
The $1-million Indian Badminton League is set to launch on August 14, 2013, with some high-voltage action expected between PVP’s Hyderabad Hotshots and BOP Group’s Banga Beats. 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 matches will be held during late afternoon and evening to coincide with prime time television and providing a convenient time for the stadium audience. The LIVE IN-stadia entertainment, combined with high-octane on-court action is expected to further hook viewers onto this new adrenalin packed LIVE family entertainment format attracting a much younger fan base, which also includes women and children.
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 out in Mumbai, for the richest prize money tournament in badminton till now.
The IBL will also run the biggest school championship for badminton in India – Shuttle Express. The IBL School Programme is expected to touch five lakh children in more than 120 schools in six major cities, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Pune. The Shuttle Express offers Rs 10 lakh as prize money and an opportunity to train at the world-class Pullela Gopichand Academy to the young talent.
