Thirty-six badminton players have been picked by six teams in an auction for the T.G.V. Bharath Andhra Badminton League to be held from January 20 to 27, A.P. Badminton Association chairman and industrialist T.G. Bharath said on Saturday.
The six teams - Amaravati Acers, Synergies Vizag Smashers, LKSP Prakasam Bulls, Guntur Club Pioneers, Vizianagaram Steel Giants and Rajamahendri Stars - have selected six players each by spending ₹2.50 lakh each at the auction held at the Maurya Inn hotel here on Saturday. International player K. Nanda Gopal got the highest bid of ₹1.05 lakh for Rajamahendri Stars, Mr. Bharath told the media here.
T. Hema Nagendra Rao of the VZM Steel Giants was bid for ₹90,000, followed by M. Kanishq of the Guntur Club Pioneers for ₹75,000 and D. Pooja of VZM and M. Tanishq of Synergies Vizag Smashers for ₹70,000 each, he said. The league matches were being held to encourage the second and third line badminton players, he said.
Mr. Bharath would inaugurate the championship at Visakhapatnam on January 20.
The finals and prize distribution would be held in Kurnool on January 27, APBA secretary Punnaiah Chowdary said.
