IBL better than C hina League, says World No.1
Mumbai
Lee Chong Wei is yet to hit his first shuttle in the Indian Badminton League (IBL) but the world number one has already proclaimed that the ongoing event is better than the prestigious and hugely competitive China League.
"I have played twice in the China League. This is the first time for India. We have players like Tine Baun, Mark Zweibler, Ivanov and some Indian players. I have played in China and I have played in India, but I think India is better. Next year I think you can do more better. China (League) is a long one played over six months but Indian League is only three weeks," the Malaysian said.
The winner of two Olympic silver medals said he is eager to draw first blood for his team Mumbai Masters against Krish Delhi Smashers in their match here tomorrow.
"Tomorrow is my first match and I hope I can play well and win the first point for my team. This is no individual game but a team event. My point is very important because it will be the first point for my team," Lee told reporters here.
The Malaysian, who retired at the World Championship finals against Chinese ace and Olympic medallist Lin Dan, said he has recovered from the cramps he suffered.
"After the World Championship, I had cramp in my body and I had to recover my body at any cost. I rushed to Malaysia for three days and I am here for IBL," he added.
His team-mate Tine Baun admitted that she has been a bit rusty due to lack of match practice.
"Of course it is very difficult for me to come back to the top level badminton. I have retired after the all England in March. It is lack of match practice and I am getting better with each match I am playing. I will do my best but it is also has been high ranking players I have been playing against.
"Two days ago I played Juliane Schenk (Pune Pistons). Even in my professional days it was difficult to beat her. It was not a good result for me. I was in three sets with her so hopefully I can do better tomorrow but of course I lack match practice," the current All England Champion said on her two losses in as many games.
The Danish said she is excited to be playing in the IBL despite the hectic schedule. "I think it has been a very tight schedule up until now, but when we came here, we had a day's rest. We had some practice today and play tomorrow. It will be just fine. Of course in other cities it has been hectic and stressful but still we have managed to do well.
"I am really excited to be in India and playing the IBL. I think the Mumbai Masters team has really good team spirit. I think we have done the best we could until now and hopefully we can do our best again tomorrow and maybe be successful," she said.
"I definitely think the IBL is something for the future as well. Until now we have played five matches and it is like the Sudirman format. I think it is exciting. Every match that has been played in the IBL has been very exciting. It is something for everybody and also exciting for players to play in it," she added.
Mumbai With a fit-again world number one men's singles player Lee Chong Wei available to play, Mumbai Masters will have the edge when they take on Krissh Delhi Smashers in their Indian Badminton League clash today.
Malaysian ace Lee, who missed the Masters' first two ties against Bangalore Beats and Pune Pistons, practiced last evening soon after his arrival and the World Championship runner-up's availability has propped up the hopes of his team.
In the absence of the Olympic silver-medallist, who has been signed for USD 135,000, Mumbai fielded Russian champion Vladimir Ivanov in the singles.
The tall World No.14, a steal for Mumbai at his base price of USD 15,000, did not let his team down and won both his singles matches in impressive fashion, at Delhi and Lucknow, besides doing his bit in the doubles too.
Mumbai look very strong in men's singles with the option to field both Lee and Ivanov. But in that case they will have to sacrifice the Russian in the men's doubles tie if they want to play the All England champion Tine Baun in women's singles.
As per the format of the event, only three foreigners can be fielded in a single tie and no player can be fielded in more than two matches in the same tie.
Baun, the world number seven who has won the All England title three times including in March and was bought for US$ 30,000, has surprisingly not been at her best and lost both her women's singles matches -to Yang Tai Tzu of Banga Beats and Juliane Schenk of Pune Pistons.
Mumbai would be hoping for a much improved display from the Danish ace.
Ivanov, on the other hand, has been the surprise package for the home team which defeated Banga Beats in its tournament opener at Delhi on August 14 before squandering a 2-0 lead to go down to Pune Pistons in the Maharashtra Derby two nights ago at Lucknow.
Ivanov has not only won both his singles matches but also piloted his younger Indian partners Pranav Chopra and Sikki Reddy to victories in men's doubles and mixed doubles matches in the first two clashes to show his worth. If they want to preserve the Russian for the doubles, Mumbai have the option of fielding Germany's Marc Zweibler, the European champion, to play the second men's singles.
Rashid Sidek-coached Delhi, on the other hand, have much weaker singles options but make it up with some very good doubles combinations. India's up and coming Sai Praneeth, who has victories over former world champion Taufik Hidayat to boast of this year, has been quite impressive in his singles encounters.
The 40th ranked Indian defeated higher ranked Vietnamese Nguyen Tien Minh of Pune Pistons and then lost in three games against S Tanongsak, of Hyderabad Hotshots, who was a semi finalist at this year's All England championships.
The Smashers fielded Daren Liew of Malaysia after HS Prannoy lost in the Pistons’ encounter against Saurabh Varma and reaped rewards as the former won his singles tie against the Hotshots. They also have the choice of using Hong Kong's world number 12 Wong Wing Ki, who beat Olympic and world champion Lin Dan of China in the Danish Open two years ago, in the singles.