BAI rechristens IBL to Premier Badminton League

New Delhi: BAI Organising committee has decided to rechristen Indian Badminton League (IBL) as Premier Badminton League (PBL).

The League which is scheduled to be held from January 2 to 17 next year is slated to be the largest ever badminton tournament which will bring some of the most noted names in the field of the sport together.

"It was a well thought out decision to change the name of the event at this stage," Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta, President, Badminton Association of India (BAI) said.

"We want to see Premier Badminton League take global stage with more traction from all the stakeholders. We aim to make PBL the most sought after tournament in the world of badminton," he added.

Sporty Solutionz Pvt Limited (SSPL), the commercial partners for the first edition of IBL had moved a petition in the Delhi High Court in October, pleading the Court to restrict any other party from using the name, logo, title or any Intellectual Property associated with IBL.

The court, however, declined to grant any injunction order, as requested by Sporty Solutionz Pvt. Ltd. (SSPL), adjourning the case till December 10.

BAI had organised the inaugural edition of IBL with SSPL in 2013 but thereafter for two years -- 2014 and 2015 -- the League did not take place. BAI then decided to organise the event this time alongwith new partner Sportzlive.

The second edition of the lucrative tournament will now kick-start on January 2nd in Mumbai with an extravagant opening ceremony and the grand finale will take place here in Delhi on January 17th.

Most badminton associations across the world have already consented to send their players for the coveted tournament despite this being the Olympic year.