“This is my first and last stint with Indian Badminton League,” says former Olympic and World Champion Taufik Hidayat. The champion shuttler wasn't happy with the way foreign players were treated during the auction.
Hidayat, who currently plays for Hyderabad Hotshots, was bought for a meagre $15,000 (same base price) even as his less experienced counterparts in the team — Pradnya Gadre ($46,000, base price — $10,000), Tarun Kona ($28,000, base price — $15,000) and Ajay Jayaram ($25,000, same base price) — raked in a higher amount.
He was quoted by The Hindu saying, "The IBL didn't treat foreign players in the right manner. I didn't like the way players were bought and sold in the IBL. The foreign shuttlers were purchased for their base prices even as the Indian players were auctioned for higher amounts.”
Though, he is not the first one to complain regarding the slashing of base prices. Earlier 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa had also raised the same issue but they were assured that they will get the amount that was supposed to given to them.
Hidayat was unhappy the way the franchisee made the auctions and was quoted by DNA saying, "The world rankings were not taken into account while deciding the base prices. What more can I say? This is the last time I'll be playing the IBL."
The two-time Thomas Cup gold medallist said he was not happy with the format. "I've never seen a game ending in 11 points before. I don't like it."
