Premier Badminton League: BAI keen to host opening ceremony in Chennai

The BAI wrote to the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu seeking permission to host league matches along with the inaugural function.

Ace India shuttler P.V. Sindhu in action at the Premier Badminton League.

 

The opening ceremony and the first set of league matches of the Premier Badminton League 2020 have been scheduled at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has written to the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) asking for permission to organise the inaugural function and the league matches from January 20 to 25 2020.

Chennai last hosted the League, also the first time, when it was in its third season. It was a grand success with the country's star P. V. Sindhu, playing for Chennai Smashers then, hogging all the attention. But the fourth season of the League couldn't be held due to variety of reasons.

READ| Sindhu, Lakshya steer Indian badminton in 2019

“The League was a grand success in Chennai in season three. We would once again like to host the matches in this vivacious city. We seek your permission to host the opening ceremony and the league stage matches at Nehru Indoor Stadium and we need the Stadium for training and practice purposes (from January 17 to 19)," Omar Rashid, Secretary (Events), BAI, wrote to SDAT.

It is reliably learnt that members of Premier Badminton League had a meeting with key officials of SDAT on Tuesday. As renovation work at the Nehru Stadium is expected to begin early next year, it remains to be seen if the League eventually happens in the city.

All matches will be live on Star Sports network and Hotstar.