The Grand Prix Badminton League (GPBL) will hold the auctions for teams and the players on June 10 and July 22 respectively for the much-awaited second season season, scheduled to be held in August later this year.
The auctions will be conducted for 10 teams and will feature bids for the Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kerala, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Lucknow and Orissa teams.
Speaking about the upcoming season, Prashanth Reddy, League Commissioner said: “With the objective of expanding the league’s reach, GPBL Season 2 will feature a total of 10 teams as against eight in the first season. With the overwhelming response from players and the addition of two new teams, we are confident of yet another successful season.”
It is expected that the opportunity will help the prospective team owners in acquiring the franchises and compete well in the showpiece league.
“The league aims to provide a platform for both domestic and international talent to not only showcase their skills but give them an opportunity to earn substantial money to fund their training and other expenses,” Reddy said in a statement.
On the other hand, the player’s auction, which will be held on July 22 will witness the participation of players from 25 nations.
As per the league’s statement, there has been a fantastic response from players – both Indian and international as more than 350 Indian and 52 international shuttlers have put their names, expecting to secure a place in one of the 10 teams.
Notably, around 150 players will be shortlisted from 400-odd players.
Meanwhile, present India No.1 and Senior National Champion Mithun Manjunath and Sai Praneeth, both ranked under the top 50 in BWF world rankings, tops the list of Indian shuttlers who have signed up for the auction.
As per the league, total player purse for each of the teams is set at Rs 30 lakh. The teams participating in the league will have the flexibility to select players from four distinct tiers, each with its own price point, ensuring that the teams can build a competitive roster while managing their budget effectively.
In a first of its-kind, a minimum guarantee of Rs 25,000 will be provided to those players who remain unsold. The GPBL Season 2 will be held in August in Bengaluru.