In a country obsessed with cricket, where other sports are often treated in a step-motherly fashion by authorities and sponsors alike, the much-awaited Indian Badminton League (IBL) is a big achievement and may prove to be a massive boost for the sport in India. Based loosely on the Indian Premier League (IPL), the IBL features six private city-based franchises?Hyderabad Hotshots, Delhi Smashers, Pune Pistons, Banga Beats, Mumbai Masters and Awadhe Warriors?that will fight for the championship title and the prize money of $1 million. Though the player auctions, held on July 22, for the IBL proved to be nowhere close to the mighty IPL, where the base price of many players was as high as $2,00,000, it still saw team owners shell out big bucks for senior players like Saina Nehwal, whose base price was $50,000. The costliest buy was Malaysia?s Lee Chong Wei who was bought by Mumbai Masters for $1,35,000.
Each team owner in the IBL will shell out around $9,82,000 every year, which includes players? fee of $2,75,000, franchise fee of around $3,27,332 and other logistical costs. Each team has six Indian players, four foreigners and one Indian junior player.
As the country waits for the most expensive badminton league in the world?to be held from August 14 to August 31 in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Lucknow, Bangalore and Hyderabad?here?s a round-up of the six teams.
Delhi Smashers
Delhi Smashers, owned by the Krrish Group, will launch its campaign against Pune Pistons on August 14. Established in 1983, Krrish Group deals in the hospitality and real estate sectors in India and Sri Lanka. The group, which is making its debut in the sports arena with the IBL, has appointed former Malaysian world number 1 Rashid Sidek as chief coach.
Host association: Delhi Capital Badminton Association (DCBA)
Host stadium: DDA Badminton & Squash Stadium, Siri Fort
Launch: August 14 against Pune Pistons
School partner: Genesis Global School
Brand ambassador: Sania Mirza
Costliest buy: Boon Hoeng Tan and Kien Keat Koo (both Malaysia) for $50,000 each
Indian star: Jwala Gutta ($31,000)
Hyderabad Hotshots
Hyderabad Hotshots will open their campaign in the IBL against Awadhe Warriors on August 15. The team is owned by the PVP Group, a Hyderabad-based multi-business house that has interests in realty, media and entertainment, particularly Bollywood. This is the group?s debut in the sports league. At the auctions, it bid aggressively for ace shuttler Saina Nehwal, shelling out $1,20,000?the most for an Indian shuttler.
Host association: Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association
Host stadium: Gachibowli Indoor Stadium
Launch: August 15 against Awadhe Warriors
School partner: Indus World School
Costliest buy: Saina Nehwal ($1,20,000)
Banga Beats
Banga Beats, which is owned by the Bangalore-based BOP Group, a real estate consultant firm, will open its campaign against Mumbai Masters on August 15. The group offers real estate services, portfolio management for corporates, HNIs and bulk investors, and is the only B2B real estate advisory firm in the country. This is the group’s debut in the field of sports.
Host association: Karnataka Badminton
Association
Host stadium: Kanteerva Indoor Stadium
Launch: August 15 against Mumbai Masters
Costliest buy: P Kashyap of India ($75,000)
Pune Pistons
Owned by the Burman family, promoters of Dabur Group, Pune Pistons will launch its campaign on August 14. The Burman family entered the world of sports with the IPL in 2008 when they became co-owners of Kings XI Punjab. They followed it up with the Hockey India League and now the IBL.
Host association: Pune District & Metropolitan Badminton Association
Host stadium: Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Badminton Hall, Balewadi
Launch: August 14 against Delhi Smashers
School partner: Symbiosis Primary & Secondary School
Costliest buy: Juliane Schenk of Germany ($90,000)
Indian star: Ashwini Ponnappa ($25,000)
Awadhe Warriors
Awadhe Warriors, owned by the Sahara India Pariwar, will launch its campaign against Pune Pistons on August 14. Owned by Subrata Roy, Sahara India Pariwar has always been at the forefront of promoting sports like cricket, hockey etc. The group has bought the IBL franchise for a period of 10 years.
Host association: Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association
Host stadium: Babu Banarsi Das UP Badminton Academy
Launch: August 15 against Hyderabad Hotshots
School partner: La Martiniere Boys
Costliest buy: PV Sindhu of India ($80,000)
Mumbai Masters
Owned by a consortium led by V Chamundeshwarnath, former manager of the Indian cricket team and secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association, the team also has actor Nagarjuna and former India cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar. Chamundeshwarnath was the first sponsor of Saina Nehwal. Nagarjuna is also the co-owner of world supersport biking team Mahi Racing Team India.
Host association: Maharashtra Badminton Association
Host stadium: Sardar Vallabh Patel Stadium, NSCI
Launch: August 15 against Banga Beats
School partner: Jamnabai Narsee School
Costliest buy: Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) for $1,35,000
Indian star: Pranav Jerry Chopra ($36,000)