PBL concludes N-E, Ahmedabad franchisee agreements

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MUMBAI: The franchisee agreements for forming of the two new teams in the Premier Badminton League from the 2017-18 season have been  concluded.

The first agreement was executed on 21 September in Ahmedabad while the second was signed in Guwahati on 25 September.

Ahmedabad franchise owner Padmanabh Sports Private Limited, the wholly owned subsidiary of publicly listed company Padmanabh Industries Limited, issued the following statement on the bourses after the execution of the franchise agreement with PBL's commercial rights holders Sportz & Live Entertainment Pvt. Ltd: "The Wholly owned Subsidiary of Padmanabh Industries Limited i.e. Padmanabh Sports Private Limited has received confirmation letter from Sportz & Live Entertainment Pvt. Ltd (a Company owning the rights for Badminton), for Confirmation of Ahmedabad franchisee for Premier Badminton League(PBL) from 2018 season onwards. The wholly owned Company accordingly executed a Franchisee Agreement dated 21/07/2017.

"In continuation to the said matter, we are now in receipt of a Letter from Badminton Association of India (Affiliated to the Badminton World federation and Badminton Asia Confederation) about their approval and confirmation of the franchisee of Ahmedabad team in the Premier Badminton League (PBL)."

For the record, Ahmedabad Smash Masters is the name given to PBL's Gujarat franchise.

As for the second new franchise in what is now en eight team league, North Eastern Warriors, owned by TK Engineering Consortium Pvt Ltd, will represent the North East India region in the PBL, which will take place in four cities across India from December 22, 2017 to 14 January, 2018.

The franchisee agreement for forming of the new team North Eastern Warriors was signed at Guwahati on September 25 between TK Engineering Consortium Pvt Ltd and Sportzlive.

"TK Engineering Consortium Pvt Ltd, an Itanagar-based company, has resolved to promote development of badminton in North-eastern India to motivate the youngsters to adopt badminton as a mantra of life and open new vistas for promising sports talents of the region that has been already recognized as the sports nursery of the country," a company release states

PBL's other six teams are Delhi Acers, Mumbai Rockets, Awadhe Warriors (Lucknow), Hyderabad Hunters, Chennai Smashers and Bengaluru Blasters. 

To be held in a rolling format, the third edition of Premier Badminton League will have Guwahati as one of the four centres.