The auction of the upcoming Indian Badminton League (IBL) was held on Monday in New Delhi. World No.1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia while got the highest bid of $135,000 and was sold to Mumbai Masters.
Indian ace shutter Saina Nehwal was sold to Hyderabad Hostshots for $120,000. Both Lee and Saina had the base price of $50,000
IBL is the richest Badminton league in the world. There will only single matches and not doubles matches.
$1 million IBL will be conducted in six cities from August 14 to August 31. Top-50 players in the world are taking part in this league.
Other players who were sold in the auction are:
Parupalli Kashyap was sold to Banga Beats for $75,000. P.V. Sindhu was sold to Lucknow Warriors for $80,000. Both had the base price of $50,000.
Jawala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa were sold below their base price of $50,000 to Delhi Smashers and Pune Pistons. Jawala went to Delhi for $31,000 and Ashwini was picked up by Pune for her reduced base price of $25,000.
Since there are no women's doubles matches in the IBL, the franchises requested the governing council of the tournament to halve the base price of the two players.
IBL officials, however, said that they would compensate the two players. They will pay Jwala $19,000 and $25,000 to Ashwini.
(with inputs from IANS)
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