Bangalore franchise of the Indian Badminton League (IBL) are keeping fingers crossed on the availability of Hu Yun after they requested the Chinese authorities to excuse the singles player from competing in their National Games.
"The franchise has requested the Chinese authorities to excuse Yun from the Chinese National Games. However, as a precaution we have asked the IBL governing body to allow us replacement for him, if he is not given permission," Banga Beats Chief Coach Vimal Kumar told PTI here.
Yun is set to participate in the Chinese National Games, the dates of which clashes with IBL itinerary, which will render Hong Kong's world number six unavailable in the later stages of the IBL. The Games is scheduled to be held at Liaoning from August 31 to September 12.
Vimal said the Chinese authorities are expected to give their reply in next two days on the issue and as a precautionary measure, the franchise has written a letter to the league's governing council for replacing Yun.
Vimal said the Banga Beats have sought Denmark's Jan Jorgensen or Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana as replacement for Yun in case Yun is not allow him to compete in IBL.
The world number four Ponsana and world number six Jorgensen went unsold at the IBL auctions, while Yun was bought by the Beats at his base price of USD 50,000.
Jorgensen commanded a base price of USD 35,000 and Ponsana was listed at USD 50,000.
Kumar said they weren't aware of Yun's unavailability at the time of the auction.
It may be recalled that Lucknow franchise Awadhe Warriors replaced Maneepong Jongjit with Denmark's Mathias Boe, after Jongjit was banned for two years.
Even the Krrish Delhi Smashers replaced Hong Kong's Wong Wing with Malaysia's Daren Liew after the former sustained an injury in the World Championships in Guangzhou.
