Auction for Pro Masters Badminton League held

Vijayawada: The auction for the three-day Pro Masters Badminton League (PMBL), organised under the auspices of Badminton Association of India (BAI), was held here on Sunday, in which about 60 veteran international and national shuttlers went under the hammer.

The event, scheduled to be held at Laskhya Badminton Academy at Visakhapatnam from July 30 to August 1, is aimed at providing a platform for former national and international players to showcase their talent in three doubles segments. 

“The events will be held in men, women and mixed doubles,” said former Indian shuttler and tournament's organizing secretary V Vidyadhar.

He said six franchisees-- Wristy Masters, Hyderabad Warriors, Rhino Smashers, Shining Stars, Sunrisers and Himalayan, Tigers-- had picked 16 players each for the contest which will be held in best of three games with 15 points.

He said each team had spent Rs 6 lakh to form their teams and players like V Diju, George Thomas (both Arjuna Awardees), Jaseel Ismail, Jason Xavier, Sanjay Mishra, Neelima Chowdary and Sameer Abbasi will be seen in action. 

“As the events are held only in doubles, we are taking the combined age of both players to determine various categories.  

Men’s doubles will be held in four combined age groups – 75+, 85+, 95+ and 105 plus. 

Women doubles will be held in one age group (ie.,)  70+ and mixed doubles will have two age groups -  75+ and 80 plus,” said Vidyadhar.