Badminton federation to introduce graded contracts for players

The Badminton Association of India is set to introduce a contract system that could see top shuttlers earn over a million rupees per year through retainership and match fees.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is set to introduce a contract system that could see top shuttlers earn over a million rupees per year through retainership and match fees.

The move comes after BAI inked a Rs 8 crore sponsorship deal with an IT firm. According to sources,the arrangement,modelled on Board of Control for Cricket in Indias gradation system,will involve senior and junior international shuttlers,with the grades based on rankings. Top players such as Saina Nehwal,Chetan Anand and Anup Sridhar could end up making almost Rs 10-15 lakh in retainership in a year.

The country has a host of shuttlers doing well on the international circuit with Nehwal emerging as the poster girl of Indian badminton. The Hyderabad player is ranked seventh in the world,while Aditi Mutatkar is 46th. V Diju and Jwala Gutta are ranked ninth in mixed doubles. Among the men,Anand is the world No 15,while P Kashyap is 30th.

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The BAI is initially planning to offer contracts to 15 men and 10 women shuttlers. The sponsorship money,according to sources,is to be spent only on developing an Indian team and the funds will be monitored by a three-member committee,comprising Prakash Padukone,national coach P Gopichand and former Asian champion Dinesh Khanna. The BAI is set to make an announcement later this week.

Conflict of interest?

However,the decision could create a conflict of interest as most top players such as Anand,Sridhar and Nehwal already have individual sponsorship deals. The BAI is likely to work out a compromise wherein the players may be asked to wear the BAI sponsor logo while representing the country in tournaments like the Sudirman Cup,Thomas Cup and Uber Cup and ABC events. In other events,where the players take part as individuals,they are likely to get an exemption.