India’s top badminton players Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and HS Prannoy fetched the maximum bid price of ₹80 lakh each in the Players Auction of the upcoming Premier Badminton League (PBL) which will enter its fourth edition on Monday.
Surprisingly, Nehwal went unsold in the first round of auctioning for the icon players but was later awarded to the North Eastern Warriors after a lucky draw as the bidding reached the maximum limit of ₹80 lakh. The 28-year-old had earlier won a gold medal in Commonwealth Games whereas a bronze in Asian Games earlier this year.
Sindhu went to the Hyderabad Hunters, Srikanth to the Bengaluru Raptors, and Prannoy to Delhi Dashers, all through the lucky draw. Whereas Carolina Marin went to Pune 7 Aces after the World champion’s name went into the lucky draw once the bidding exceeded ₹80 lakh. Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen went to Ahmedabad Smash Masters for ₹80 lakh and his predecessor Son Wan Ho went to Awadhe Warriors after being bought for ₹70 lakh.
Alongside, India’s young doubles specialist Satwiksairaj Rankireddy was picked up by Ahmedabad Smash Masters for ₹52 lakh. Meanwhile, Chris Adcock and Gabby Adcock will be playing together for Chennai Smashers as the franchise bought the couple for a combined ₹90 lakh. Also, Mathias Boe was bought by Tapsee Pannu-owned Pune 7 Aces for half a crore. On the other hand, World No 11 Tommy Sugiarto was bought for ₹70 lakh by Delhi Dashers.
The World No 25 Lee Hyun Il was bought for his base price of ₹60 lakh by Hyderabad, while Denmark’s Anders Antonsen went to Mumbai Rockets for ₹55 lakh.
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