‘Facing Srikanth will be exciting’

Sidelined with injuries for a major part of the season, Parupalli Kashyap is now eyeing a successful return through the Premier Badminton League Season Two and is looking forward to his first match against the Bengaluru Top Guns.

Kashyap, Hyderabad Hunters’ top player, is expecting a clash against training partner K. Srikanth in the men’s singles rubber.

“I am awaiting my first match in the PBL and hoping that it will be a clash with Srikanth. If we play against each other it will be an exciting game, giving the in-stadia crowd as well as the viewers an exhilarating game of badminton.

“Also with Lee Chong Wei in our team, we are a formidable lineup and are all set to give a tough time to the opponents,” said Kashyap, who is ranked 15th in the world.

The PBL will begin on January 2, 2016, where six franchisees — Delhi Acers, Hyderabad Hunters, Bengaluru Top Guns, Chennai Smashers, Mumbai Rockets and Awadhe Warriors — will compete for top honours.

The opening day of the league will witness Awadhe Warriors take on Mumbai Rockets in Mumbai.

Sridhar to coach Awadhe Warriors

Former India international Anup Sridhar will coach Awadhe Warriors, the Lucknow-based franchise announced on Wednesday.

Sridhar, who retired recently, will mark his first stint as a coach through the much-awaited league.Speaking on the announcement, Sridhar said: “I am honoured to be part of the Awadhe Warriors team and look forward to coaching players like Saina Nehwal and the rest. This is my first stint as a coach and I am excited on how things turned out for me. This will be a good platform to prove myself as an international coach.”

Said Badminton Association of India president and PBL chairman Akhilesh Das Gupta, “We are happy for Anup and wish him luck. He has proved himself to be a great player and Awadhe Warriors can take learnings from his huge experience during the league.”

Sridhar, a former national champion, captained India in the 2007 Thomas Cup when he ended the year ranked 25, followed by 24th in the world in 2008.