Good news to city badminton buffs for the second edition of TGV Bharath Andhra Badminton League’s fourth match between Amaravati Acers (Vijayawada franchisee) and Guntur Pioneers (Guntur franchisee) will be held at Vijayawada Club indoor stadium on January 23 at 5 p.m.
The badminton caravan after enthralling the buffs in Vizag, Vizianagaram, and Kothapet will arrive Vijayawada on Tuesday in which several international players such as Gopi Raju, Jeshwanth, Harika (Acers) Sonika Sai and Kanishq (Pioneers) will showcase their talent. As many as six teams are vying for honours in the eight-day long tourney.
“Last year we finished fourth among five teams. After clashing with Guntur Pioneers we will cross swords with Prakasam Bulls in Ongole on January 24,” said Amaravati Acers owner Yarlagadda Rajasekhar. “Our primary aim is to earn a place in the semi-finals in Nellore on January 26,” he pointed out.
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Hectic practice session
Meanwhile, the Acers’ shuttlers had a hectic practice session on Saturday under the watchful eyes of coach Kiran and mentor Bharani Kumar.
“We are expecting an encouraging home support as we are playing in Vijayawada. We have a balanced team of experienced players and internationals like Gopi Raju and Jashwanth will boost the morale of the team, consisting of a handful of budding players.”
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Mr Gummadi Suresh, co-owner, said that women’s singles was team’s Achilles heel as they couldn’t get best players owing to money constraint during the auction. “Each team can spend ₹2.5 lakh on the players”.
The team management had spent ₹60,000 on D. Jaswanth, who has already represented Indian junior team in the German and Dutch Open in 2107 and won a bronze medal in the prestigious Smt. Krishna Khaitan badminton tourney.
Mr. Gopi Raju, who was bought for ₹45,000, is a doubles specialist and he has won bronze medals in the all India senior ranking tournaments in Kakinada and Bengaluru in mixed and men’s doubles respectively. “He will pair with Harika in the mixed doubles,” Mr. Suresh added. Every team owner will take care of the kitting, accommodation, food and travelling to their team members and the winner carry home ₹3, 50,000 while the runners-up will pocket ₹2, 50,000. Remaining four teams will get ₹1 Lakh each.
The teams: Amaravati Acers: G. Gopi Raju, D. Jaswanth, A. P. Megha. Veda Vyas, V. Harika and R. Prannoy. Guntur Club Pioneers: Sk. Gouse, M. Kanishq, P. Sonika Sai, K. Preethi, K. Vara Prasad and B. Venkatesh.