Indian Badminton League to be launched on November 10

Mumbai: The much-talked about Indian Badminton League (IBL), that is being promised as the vehicle to bring in big money to the nation`s shuttlers, will be launched here on November 10 in presence of London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal.

The launch would be done at a Bandra hotel in the presence of Saina, national coach P Gopichand, other Indian badminton team members and Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta, it was learnt. The League, that is to involve city-based franchise teams similar to cricket`s cash-rich Indian Premier League, vouches a total of USD 1 million as the prize money on offer, the "highest prize money in badminton anywhere in the world," according to information put up on Sporty Solutionz Pvt Ltd`s website -- the commercial partner of the BAI. A quarter-finalist in the event, featuring both Indian and foreign players, would be richer by anywhere between Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh, as per the website. The IBL`s governing council, chaired by Dr Gupta, also includes Gopi and former internationals Pradeep Gandhe and Vimal Kumar as its members. PTI