National badminton team chief coach P. Gopi Chand on Wednesday said the new rule of ‘Trump Match’, introduced in the second edition of Premier Badminton League (PBL), will make the tournament an exciting one for players and fans.
PBL’s second edition is set to start on January 2 with a clash between Awadhe Warriors, spearheaded by 2012 Olympic bronze medallist and 2015 World championship silver medallist Saina Nehwal, and Mumbai Rockets here. Besides Mumbai, the participating franchises are Delhi Acers, Hyderabad Hunters, Bengaluru Top Guns, Chennai Smashers, and Lucknow-based Awadhe Warriors.
A team winning the ‘Trump Match’, after selecting one of the five matches in a tie, would gain a bonus point (+2) and a negative point (-1) in case of defeat.
“It’s a great addition to the league to ensure that the excitement remains till the end of the tie. Each team has to nominate a trump match from among five matches. Teams have to finalise their line-up one-and-a-half hours before the tie and also name their trump match,” Gopi Chand said at a press conference here.
“Both teams may nominate the same match as trump match. Even a 3-0 lead is not sufficient to win as you can still lose the tie. Spectator interest will be kept alive. It needs to be seen how the players react to the extra pressure. Some play better under pressure and some others crack,” he said.
Speaking on the league, he said, “I am really excited to see the league help youngsters and aspiring players play against top stars and make a name for themselves. All teams look strong, it will be difficult to pick a favourite. Fans can expect some fireworks.”
