New Delhi: The fifth edition of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) is all set to begin from January 20.
The upcoming season is set to conclude on February 9 and will be staged in Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, and Bangalore.
The league-owned by Badminton Association of India (BAI) and organized by Sportzlive, offers a total purse of Rs 6 crore with the winner taking home a cheque of Rs 3 crore.
While the Kidambi Srikanth-led Bengaluru Raptors had lifted the trophy in the last edition, Hyderabad Hunters, Chennai Smashers, Delhi Dashers, and Hyderabad Hotshots are the other past winners.
"India's prowess in badminton has been re-established once again as PV Sindhu became the first Indian to become the world champion. Sai Praneeth also brought a men's singles medal after 36 years, signifying India's stupendous development in the sport.
"The fifth season of PBL will give badminton lovers a priceless opportunity to watch these champions live," said Himanta Biswa Sarma, President of BAI.
With the 2020 Tokyo Games scheduled to be held in July-August and shuttlers focussed on sealing their Olympic spots, it will be interesting to see how they manage their workload and ensure participation in the cash-rich tournament.
