Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa are very much upset with the amount for which they went to Delhi Smashers and Pune Pistons, respectively. They emphasised on the fact that being an icon player they should have been offered a better deal and the overnight slash in their base price just added fuel to the fire. Meanwhile, Saina Nehwal went for a whooping USD1,20,000 to Hyderabad HotShots.
Women’s doubles champions of Commonwealth Games, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa went for USD 31,000 (Rs 18,51,520) and USD 25,000 (Rs 14,93,125). The base price was reduced from USD 50,000 to USD 25,000 after a last-minute meeting of all the franchises.
Meanwhile the Times of India quoted doubles specialist Gutta, saying, "I am very disappointed. Me and Ashwini signed the contract as icon players and we should have been given a better deal. We were not even informed about the reduction of base price. In fact, the fact that the women's doubles has been replaced by singles. I came to know late. What can I say, I am disappointed.”
But Ashish Chadha, CEO of Sporty Solutionz, cleared the air by saying that they will be paid the deficit amount by IBL. Sporty Solutionz are the commercial partner of IBL and their CEO was quoted by Hindustan Times saying, "Last night we had a closed bidding but then two players Jwala and Ashwini went unsold, so it was scrapped and it was decided that their base price be slashed to USD 25,000 and all icon players should be put under the hammer at the auction.”
"Since Jwala and Ashwini were signed as icon players keeping in mind the women's doubles, which was later replaced with another singles event, the IBL decided to safeguard their interest by paying them the deficit amount and give them a chance to fetch a bigger amount in the auction," concluded Chadha.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Mathias Boe has said that Thomas Cup which will be held next year is going to be his last appearance in India and this remark came in when he didn’t find any takers in the auction of IBL. The silver medallist of London Olympics and a winner of All England Super Series in 2011 had a base price of USD 50,000. Meanwhile his compatriot Carsten Mogensen was bought by Banga Beats from Bangalore at a base price of USD 50,000.
Boe was quoted by The Hindu saying, "Didn't get sold to IBL. I'm really pissed, as I have supported the event all the way though, and almost left the national team to participate. After Thomas cup next year I will never set my feet in India again or support any events from their side.”
A lot of high-profile players went unsold, including Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana (ranked fourth), Japan's Kenechi Tago (ranked fifth), Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto (ranked eighth) and Sony Dwi Kuncoro (ranked 10th) as they will not be available for the entire tournament, which will be held from August 14 to 31.
