'Excited to play for Smashers'

India’s P V Sindhu has become a household name after her excellent performance in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this year. The trainee of Pullela Gopichand Academy was bought for Rs 39 lakh by Chennai Smashers for the second edition of the Premier Badminton League to be held from January 1-15.

While Sindhu went to Chennai, Olympic champion Carolina Marin was the costliest buy at the auction, fetching Rs 61.5 lakh from Hyderabad Hunters. 

Asked if she was disappointed to fetch only Rs 39 lakh, despite being the top Indian icon player in this edition, Sindhu said: “I was not really surprised or disappointed because I was really excited that Chennai will retain me. I was more interested to see how each team bid and who will go in which team.” 

With numerous Olympians participating, Sindhu hopes for an exciting league. “It would be a successful PBL this time. It will be very exciting with so many international players coming here and playing, it will be real fun,” she said. 

Sindhu, who was a part of Chennai Smashers in the last edition, is looking forward to play as a team with her contemporaries. “I have been part of the Chennai Smashers team. Adcock and I are again in the same team and playing with foreign players is very different as we don’t get the chance to play together, so it will be exciting,” she added. 

After her fierce battle with Marin at the Olympic final, everyone is excited to see Sindhu take on the Spaniard at the PBL and the Indian said she is also looking forward to the rematch.