Star shuttler Saina Nehwal is over the moon after being picked up by Hyderabad Hotshots in the inaugural players' auction of the Indian Badminton League here today, and said she will give her best to help her team win the upcoming franchise-based event.
"I am very happy to be with my home team. I always wanted to be with either Hyderabad or Lucknow but eventually I was bought by Hyderabad and it is a great news. I hope I can help my team to do well in the IBL," Saina told PTI.
"It is a good exposure. It is a good beginning. I will give my 100 per cent," added the London Olympics bronze medallist.
Saina, an icon player, was bought by Hyderabad Hotshots for a whopping USD 120,000 (approximately Rs 71,27,796) after beating the bids of Lucknow Warriors and Pune Pistons in the much-awaited auction where over 150 players went under the hammer for 66 slots to be filled by six teams.
Each team will have six Indians, four foreigners and one Indian junior player each.
While Saina was bought by her home team, ace male shuttler P Kashyap, who was picked up by Banga Beats for USD 75,000 (Rs 4,455,622 approx) did not turn out to be that lucky.
The Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist, however, assured of giving his best for the Bangalore franchise in the inaugural IBL to be held across cities from August 14 to 31.
"I am happy to be picked up in the auction. It will be a good experience, especially after the world championship.
"But I would have been more comfortable if I was picked up by the Hyderabad team because it is my home. The matches will be played in Gachibowli (in Hyderabad) and I live in Gachibowli," Kashyap said.
