We’re at the end of 2017, the international badminton season is all wrapped up but players have one more tournament left on their agenda – the Premier Badminton League.
In its third season, the PBL has grown into an eight-team tournament that starts with the first leg on 23 December in Guwahati. The headlining tie, of course, is the big PV Sindhu vs Saina Nehwal game on Saturday night, when defending champions Chennai Smashers take on Awadhe Warriors.
Less than a year ago, it was Sindhu who had led Chennai to a title triumph after an intense battle with Mumbai Rockets at New Delhi, and the Indian ace will hope to begin the tournament on a positive note. Sindhu, currently ranked No 3 in the World, holds a 2-1 edge in her recent meetings against Saina, with her only loss coming in the Senior Nationals final in Nagpur last month.
I’m looking forward to our opening match against Awadhe Warriors. It is not just my match against Saina, every match will be tough as there are some really strong teams out there. The competition is going to be really good.PV Sindhu
With World No 1 in both men's and women's singles, eight 2017 World Championship medallists, nine Olympic medallists (including three multiple medal winners) competing in this edition, the league is easily the best among Olympic disciplines in the country.
However, the week preceding the tournament has seen Saina Nehwal hit the headlines after the former world number slammed the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for a “cramped” international calendar in 2018, after the sport’s parent body made it mandatory for top shuttlers to play at least 12 tournaments in a year.
2018’s scheduled by BWF is too crammed, it is not right for the top players. I need more time to get the best out of me. I can’t play back-to-back events. I can just participate but can’t win. After the PBL, we have three tournaments. Again, before the World Championship there are three super series, so I am not understanding why BWF decided to go for such a schedule.Saina Nehwal
On Friday in Guwahati though, PV Sindhu was asked about the new development on the circuit for next season and India’s top women’s singles player simply said the BWF’s decision was something the players need to take in their stride and move on.
Well yes, it is a tight schedule. I just feel that whatever happens, it (the schedule) is going to be there, we are not going to change it. If we think it’s a tight schedule, then it will be. But, I think we need to plan accordingly, and we need to know what tournaments to play, so we need to just pick and choose every tournament.PV Sindhu
The PBL has been stretched to three weeks for the first time this season and will be played from 23 December to 14 January.
(With inputs from PTI)
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