When everyone speaks highly about the Premier Badminton League (PBL) and its impact on the sport, one may take it with a pinch of salt. But, when India coach and Dronacharya awardee P. Gopi Chand talks of the PBL with specific examples, you listen.
At the promotional event here on Monday, Gopi Chand narrated how PBL had been a breakthrough event for doubles specialist Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and World No. 10 H.S. Prannoy.
When Sathwiksairaj was drafted into Hyderabad Hunters last year, Gopi, said there were questions raised whether he deserved the place. However, as the league progressed, such was his performance that he went on to play a crucial trump match.
And an unbeaten performance from Prannoy in the PBL, according to Gopi Chand, gave him the much-needed push to do well at the international level.
“Sathwik is a classic example of how things changed in one PBL season. A league can cause a huge transformation in a player. There are many players who should take such opportunities and push their points to be heard,” said Gopi Chand.
“Sathwik’s performance could inspire men’s doubles as a group and Prannoy’s can inspire Sai Praneeth and others. It has the potential to inspire the entire scenario of Indian badminton,” he said.
The former All-England champion said the League had grown to such an extent that it had Indian stars to bank on in its third edition.
“To say with a matter of pride that when we were looking at the first edition of PBL, were were looking at top players and Indians. Today, many of the top players are Indians and that gives us lot of depth. Overall we are very happy to see this year’s field and the larger interest of the sport across the country,” said Gopi.
Sportzlive executive director Mangipudi Prasad said the inclusion of an under-17 player in each team this year would give the youngsters good exposure.
“This time, every team has a junior (u-17) player. Watching the top Indian and foreign players will have a huge impact,” he said.
The No. 1 performing Olympic sport in the country, Prasad, summed up, deserves a fantastic league.
(The writer is in Dubai at the invitation of Sportzlive)
