I am sure IBL will catch up with IPL in coming years: Saina

Elated after an unbeaten run that helped Hyderabad Hotshots lift the inaugural Indian Badminton League trophy, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal said she expects the USD one million event to become as big as cricket's IPL in the coming years.
"Nobody expected it would be so successful because everyone was comparing it with the IPL, which is actually not right at this point of time...And we are trying to make it big but first time of course it is not so easy. I am sure in the coming years, it will catch up with IPL," she said.
The Hyderabad Hotshots, led by Saina, clinched the trophy last night by defeating Awadhe Warriors 3-1.

The London Olympic Games bronze-medallist, who was slated to play in the mixed doubles, said she was nervous against the Indonesian sibling pair of Markis Kido and Pia Bernadeth if the tie had come down to the last match.
"I am a singles player. Frankly speaking, I was a little scared also because Kido and Pia are world number 9. They are champions. I was just ready and wanted to give my best. That was our strategy but good we pulled out in the men's singles. It would have been a tough match because Kido and Pia are better than us," she said.

"In the first game when Ajay (Jayaram) lost, I was a little tense and thought it is going to come down to the mixed doubles. I think the way he played in the second and the third (game) was brilliant. I am very happy for his result because it was the main match for our team," she added.
On her match against P V Sindhu, where she outclassed the youngster 21-15,21-7, Saina said, "It was the finals so I personally had no pressure. I just wanted to give my best. Sindhu also played quite well today but I am happy I pulled off my match.

"We actually didn't expect the doubles also because Kido and Mathias Boe are great champions at the same time our players did very well.