Vodafone Premier Badminton League 2017: Know your teams

New Delhi: The second season of Premier Badminton League (PBL) gets underway on New Year’s Day and it is sure to be an exciting affair with some of the best players in the world battling it out on badminton courts across India. We look at all the teams and players who will feature in the 2017 PBL season. AWADHE WARRIORS Last year’s semi-finalists Awadhe Warriors will look to go better this time around, and the team owned by Sahara Adventure Sports Limited are strong contenders with some talented players plying their trade for them. Srikanth Kidambi (Men’s Singles) The 2014 China Open champion is currently India’s highest-ranked player among men. The 23-year-old from Andhra Pradesh will be raring to go for the Warriors when the league starts. Saina Nehwal (Women’s Singles) The former world no. 1 is one of the best bets for the Warriors. With glittering records in the sport, the 26-year-old will look to play a major role in delivering the title for her team. Markis Kido (Men’s/Mixed Doubles) The 32-year-old Indonesian is a veteran of the game and is a double’s specialist, having won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s doubles event in 2008. He would look for a solid performance when the league begins. Aditya Joshi (Men’s Singles) The 20-year-old from Madhya Pradesh is the first male Indian junior badminton player who ranked first in the world junior rankings. A junior national champion in 2013, he is one youngster to watch out for. Other players: Vincent Wong Wing Ki (men’s singles), Rituparna Das (women’s singles), Bodin Isara (men’s/mixed doubles), Goh W Shem (men’s/mixed doubles), P Sawant (women’s/mixed doubles), Savitree Amitrapai (women’s/mixed doubles)  BENGALURU BLASTERS The Blasters finished as the bottom-most team last time around, when they were called Bengaluru Topguns, and the team owned by N. Prasad and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar would want to look at some significant improvement this season. With some top players in the squad, they are certainly no pushovers. Viktor Axelsen (Men’s Singles) The 22-year from Denmark is the current world number three and the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the single’s event. An energetic youth, he is expected to come all guns blazing for the tournament. Ashwini Ponnappa (Women’s/Mixed Doubles) The 27-year-old is one of the best doubles players in the country. She would be looking to make an impact this season for the Blasters. Ko-Sung Hyun (Men’s/Mixed Doubles) The 29-year-old South Korean is the current world no. 1 in men’s doubles and his contribution will be vital for his team in the tournament. Other Players: Boonsak Ponsana (men’s singles), Sourabh Verma (men’s singles), Gadde Ruthvika Shivani (womens’s singles), Pranaav Jerry Chopra (men’s /mixed doubles), Yoo Yeon Song (men’s/mixed doubles), Sikki Reddy (women’s/mixed doubles)  CHENNAI SMASHERS Semi-finalists last time out, Chennai Smashers would look for another successful campaign hoping to bag the title this season. Owned by The Wones Private Limited and with a squad full of exciting players, they are one of the favourites in the tournament. P V Sindhu (Women’s Singles) The 21-year-old Hyderabadi needs no introduction. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist is her team’s main player and with the form she is in, she can be hard to stop. Remained unbeaten in PBL 2016.

1. Kashyap (Men’s Singles)

The 30-year-old is one of India’s top players and a gold medalist in the Commonwealth Games 2014. His team will depend a lot on his performances in the tournament. Chris and Gabrielle Adcock (Men’s and Women’s/Mixed Doubles) The husband-wife pair are ranked 8^th in the world and they play some good, eye-catching badminton together. The Smashers will hope that the pair deliver the goods for them. Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (Men’s Singles) The 26-year-old from Thailand is the winner of the 2016 Denmark Super Series, the first Thai to do so, and is the current world number 11. He would look to make an impact in the tournament. Other Players: Tommy Sugiarto (men’s singles), Arundhati Pantawane (women’s singles), B Sumeeth Reddy (men’s/mixed doubles), Mads Pieler Kolding (men’s/mixed doubles), Ramya Tulasi (women’s/mixed doubles)   DELHI ACERS Defending champions Delhi Acers would be looking for an encore of last year’s performance and have bolstered their squad with some fine players. The team owned by Infinite Tech Venture Private Limited will be high on confidence in their quest for back to back titles. Jan O Jorgensen (Men’s Singles) The 28-year-old Dane is currently ranked second in the world and was the first European men’s singles player to have won the Indonesia Open. He will look to lead from the front for his team. Son Wan Ho (Men’s Singles) The 28-year-old South Korean is currently ranked fourth in the world and his presence in the Acers’ lineup make them the team to beat. Ivan Sozonov and Vladimir Ivanov (Men’s/Mixed Doubles) The Russian doubles pair are the 2016 All England Super Series champions and play some eye-catching badminton together. The formidable duo will be vital as far as the Acers’ chances are concerned. Jwala Gutta (Women’s/Mixed Doubles) The 33-year-old is one of the icons of the sport in India and is one of the top doubles players. She would want to help her team’s cause when the tournament starts. Other players: Siril Verma (men’s singles), Aakarshi Kashyap (women’s singles), Nitchaon Jindapon (women’s singles), Akshay Dewalkar (men’s/mixed doubles), Maneesha K (women’s/mixed doubles)  HYDERABAD HUNTERS Hyderabad Hunters finished fifth last time, being unable to qualify for the semi-finals. However, with some top-notch players this time, they are sure to come all guns blazing for this tournament. Carolina Marin (Women’s Singles) The 23-year-old Spaniard is the world number two and the 2016 Olympic gold medalist. One of the best in the business, she will lead from the front for the Hunters. Tan Boon Heong (Men’s/Mixed doubles) The 29-year-old Malaysian is a former world number one in men’s doubles and is now ranked 14^th. He will bring a lot of experience into the squad. Tan Wee Kiong (Men’s/Mixed Doubles) The 27-year-old is another player from Malaysia and he is the current world number one in men’s doubles. A silver medalist in the men’s doubles at the 2016 Olympics, he will carry a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders. Chau Hoi Wah (Women’s/Mixed Doubles) The 30-year-old is the current world number 10 in doubles and will look to perform solidly in the tournament. Other players: B Sai Praneeth (men’s singles), Rajiv Ouseph (men’s singles), Sameer Verma (men’s singles), Sree Krishna Priya (women’s singles), Satwik Sai Raj (men’s/mixed doubles), Meghana J (women’s/mixed doubles)  MUMBAI ROCKETS Last year’s runners-up Mumbai Rockets will look to go one better this time around and bag the title. The team owned by ZOYLO Digihealth Private Limited have some superb players up their sleeve as they look to keep up with their good touch in the tournament. Ajay Jayaram (Men’s Single) The 29-year-old is amongst the topmost male singles players in India and will hope to create an impact with the Rockets. Sung Ji Hyun (Women’s Single) South Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun is ranked fifth in the world and will look for a positive start in the tournament. Lee Yong Dae (Men’s/Mixed Doubles) The 28-year-old South Korean is a former number one in men’s doubles and current world number one in mixed doubles. The 2008 Olympic gold medalist in mixed doubles announced his retirement this year from professional badminton but, will bring in a lot of expertise to his team. Other players: H S Prannoy (men’s singles), Shreyansh Jaiswal (men’s singles), Vrushali Gummadi (women’s singles), Chirag Shetty (men’s mixed doubles), Nipithphon Phungphuapet (men’s/mixed doubles), Mohita Sahdev (women’s/mixed doubles), Nadiezda Zieba (women’s/mixed doubles)