Photographs: Michael Regan/Getty Images
India’s ace shuttler Saina Nehwal was elated on being picked by Hyderabad Hotshots for the Indian Badminton League.
The London Olympics bronze medallist and world No 1 Lee Chong Wei fetched whopping prices of US $120,000 and $135,000 respectively, while unheralded Pradnya Gadre and K Maneesha received unexpectedly high bids.
The money splurged at the inaugural Players' auction, though, was nowhere near cricket’s Indian Premier League. However, for a sport like badminton it was a huge step.
-IBL auction: Saina in Hyderabad, Lee Wei goes to Mumbai
Rediff.com presents the best buys of the IBL.
Player: Saina Nehwal (India)
Team: Hyderabad Hotshots
Base price: $50,000
Player bought: $120,000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Image: Lee Chong Wei of MalaysiaPhotographs: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images
Player: Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia)
Team: Mumbai Masters
Base price: $50,000
Player bought: $135,000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Image: Juliane Schenk of GermanyPhotographs: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images
Player: Juliane Schenk (Germany)
Team: Pune Pistons
Base price: $50,000
Player bought: $90, 000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Image: PV SindhuPhotographs: OGQ
Player: PV Sindhu (India)
Team: Lucknow Warriors
Base price: $50,000
Player bought: $80, 000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Image: P KashyapPhotographs: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters
Player: P Kashyap (India)
Team: Banga Beats
Base price: $50,000
Player bought: $75, 000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Image: Hu Yun of Hong KongPhotographs: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images
Player: Hu Yun (Hong Kong)
Team: Hyderabad Hotshots
Base price: $50,000
Player bought: $50,000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Image: Boon Hoeng Tan of MalaysiaPhotographs: Scott Heavey/Getty Images
Player: Boon Hoeng Tan (Malaysia)
Team: Delhi Smashers
Base price: $25,000
Player bought: $50,000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Image: Kien Keat Koo of MalaysiaPhotographs: Scott Heavey/Getty Images
Player: Kien Keat Koo (Malaysia)
Team: Delhi Smashers
Base price: $25,000
Player bought: $50,000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Photographs: Courtesy: Sai Praneeth/Facebook
Player: Sai Praneeth (India)
Team: Delhi Smashers
Base price: $15,000
Player bought: $40,000
PHOTOS: 10 hottest buys of the Indian Badminton League
Photographs: Courtesy: Guru Sai Dutt/Facebook
Player: Guru Sai Dutt (India)
Team: Lucknow Warriors
Base price: $25,000
Player bought: $40,000
Comment
article