IBL reduces Boe's base price, back in reserve pool
New Delhi: The base price of London Olympics silver medallist Mathias Boe, who went unsold in the players' auction, has been reduced by the Indian Badminton League orgainsers enabling him to be included in the reserve pool.
According to an IBL official, the 33-year-old Dane, who had vowed never to play in India after he went unsold in the auction, has requested the organisers to lower his base price.
"Mathias Boe had contacted us and asked us to reduce his base price to USD 25,000 from USD 50,000. So, he is now back in the reserve pool," chief executive of Sporty Solutionz, commercial partner of the IBL, Ashish Chadha told PTI.
The reduction of his base price means Boe is now eligible to replace Awadhe Warriors' Maneepong Jongjit, who has been suspended for three months by the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) for an on-court brawl with compatriot Bodin Issara in Canada.
"Unfortunately, Lucknow (Awadhe Warriors) needs a replacement after Jongjit was banned by BWF and BAT. There are a few players whom they can buy with their purse and Mathias is one of them. They have sent some request and it will be ratified by the IBL governing council tonight," Chadha said.
Exasperated at being snubbed at the IBL players' auction, Boe had earlier vowed not to visit India ever after appearing in Thomas Cup next year.
"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," Boe, who won the All England Super Series in 2011 with compatriot Carsten Mogensen, had tweeted after the auction.
"After Thomas cup next year I will never set my feet in India again or support any events from their side," he wrote.
India's Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponnappa, Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas were the other upset shuttlers whose base prices were slashed by the IBL organisers.
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