Mumbai
The other top international stars who will be seen in action in the nine-team PBL are Dane Viktor Axelsen, Lee Yong Dae of Korea and Indians K Srikanth, HS Pranoy and Saina Nehwal.
The nine teams, Delhi Dashers, Ahmedabad Smash Masters, Awadhe Warriors, Bengaluru Raptors, Mumbai Rockets, Hyderabad Hunters, Chennai Smashes, North Eastern Warriors and debutant Pune 7 Aces would be slugging it out for a total prize fund of Rs 6 crore.
The winner will take home Rs 3 crore, the runner-up Rs 1.5 crore and the 3rd and 4th placed teams Rs 75 lakh each. The inaugural round will be here at the NSCI Indoor stadium in Worli up to December 24 while the semi-finals and final will take place in Bengaluru.
“I will be playing for Hyderabad Hunters and I hope to do well,” said Sindhu, who bagged her first major women’s singles title at the year-ending BWF World Tour Finals earlier this month. “PBL having top players in all seasons is not a joke. It’s very good for Indian badminton. This time, I am with the (North Eastern) Warriors. I hope we go all out (for the title),” said Saina at the pre-season media conference.
The bronze medal winner in the 2012 London Olympics will be playing her first tournament after her marriage with fellow shuttler Parupalli Kashyap, who will turn out for Chennai Smashers.
Marin’s clash with Sindhu here would set the tone for the league. Pune has a strong team with Marin, Asian junior boys champion Lakshya Sen, doubles specialist Mathias Boe, Ajay Jayaram and Prajakta Sawant, among others. “I am looking forward to the PBL. I will try my best,” said skipper Marin.
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