PBL auction: Saina, Sindhu bag big deals
NEW DELHI: Reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin was on Monday bought by debutant PBL franchise Pune 7 Aces, while Indian stars Saina Nehwal and PVSindhu were picked up by North Eastern Warriors and Hyderabad Hunters, respectively during the Premier Badminton League (PBL) auction.
Saina was bought as the icon player by the North Eastern Warriors for ~80 lakh. She had earlier represented the Awadhe Warriors for the past three editions.
“PBL Season 4 is coming up. I am really happy to know that I am with the North Eastern Warriors. So, really looking forward to play,” Saina said on Twitter.
Sindhu will feature for the Hyderabad franchise after the defending champions picked her up for ~80 lakh, while Rio gold medallist Carolina Marin of Spain also went for the same price to Pune. World No.9 Sung Ji Hyun was snapped up by Chennai Smashers, also for ~80 lakh.
Among the big names in men’s badminton, former World No 1 Victor Axelsen of Denmark was picked up by Ahmedabad Smash Masters for ~80 lakh, while World No 6 Kidambi Srikanth joined Bengaluru Raptor for the same amount.
HS Prannoy was bought by Delhi Dashers after a bidding war with Mumbai Rockets for ~80 lakh, while South Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun and Lee Yong Dae also went for the same amount to Chennai Smashers and Mumbai, respectively. The Awadh Warriors spent ~70 lakh to bag South Korean Son Wan Ho while Pune bought Denmark’s Mathias Boe for ~50 lakh. Teenaged sensation Lakshya Sen was bought by Pune for ~11 lakh while another youngster Satwiksairaj Rankireddy went for a whopping ~52 lakh to the Ahmedabad Smash Masters.
CHONG WEI TO REST
KUALALUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei said he needed to be left alone to rest for at least a few days after returning home following nose cancer treatment in Taiwan. The three-time Olympic silver medallist returned on a private jet. “I need to rest. I will hold a press conference soon,” the New Straits Times said. “Just allow me to rest for a few days before I meet everyone. Thank you.”