JOIN USStung by the stringent criticism from some shuttlers over the way the player auctions for the upcoming Indian Badminton League were conducted recently, the Badminton Association of India and the league’s organisers have barred players from talking to the media.
“It has been decided that only BAI president (Akhilesh Das Gupta) and Ashish Chada (CEO of the league’s commercial partner Sporty Solutionz) will issue statements.
Clauses have been inserted into the contracts for officials and players,” said a top source.
Controversy erupted after Jwala Gutta and her former doubles partner Ashwini Ponnappa, bronze medalists in the 2011 World Championship and title winners in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, lashed out at the IBL after their base price was slashed to half just before the start of the auction, from USD 50,000 (Rs 29,86,264) to USD 25,000 (14,93,125) after consultation with the six franchises.