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The Indian Premier League bug seems to have bitten badminton as well. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has approved a proposal floated by the Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA) to conduct an Indian Badminton League beginning later this year. The MBA, in association with its Pune sibling, had successfully conducted a Maharastra Badminton League last year and was seeking to replicate this model at the national level.
Sundar A Shetty, Secretary of MBA, confirmed to Sportskeeda that the BAI had okayed the proposal it had sent a month ago. The MBA has proposed a league of six to eight teams, with each team allowed to sign up two foreign players – one male and one female. The format would consist of two men’s singles matches and one men’s doubles, women’s singles and mixed doubles (there will be no women’s doubles). Every franchise will have to shell out between Rs 65 to 75 lakh per year, as the prize money is an impressive Rs 20 lakh for the winners and Rs 12 lakh for the runners-up, besides which there will be numerous other prizes on offer.
There is little doubt about the potential of such a league. If it can rope in players like Taufik Hidayat or Peter Gade, who are likely to retire from international duties after the Olympics, the Indian league can become a money-spinner.
“The total bid money for the players will be Rs 30 lakh,” said Shetty. “Each team will have seven players, plus two reserves, and support staff such as coaches and physios.” The scale of the event is unmatched in Indian badminton, and promises to herald a new age for India’s badminton players.
The dates for the event are yet to be fixed. Shetty said the BAI had suggested the week between May 27 and June 6th, but, with Olympics preparations in full swing, the event wouldn’t attract top players. “We will have to look at a new slot,” said Shetty. “Preparations will begin next week. We have been given the rights to host this for the first eight years.”
After the success of the Maharashtra league, Karnataka too organised a state league which was well received by the fraternity. An Indian Badminton League has been on the cards for a while, and if it does materialise, will revolutionise the profile of the game in the country.
