The Tennis Premier League (TPL), a highly anticipated tennis tournament, has announced its player auction results, with Rohan Bopanna and Sumit Nagal emerging as key acquisitions for the Delhi Tigers and Gujarat Panthers, respectively.
The auction, held on Wednesday, saw all eight participating teams select three leading players each. The remaining roster spots will be filled in due course for the TPL, scheduled to take place at the CCI courts in Mumbai from December 3 to 8.
The TPL has attracted a star-studded lineup, including tennis legends Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza. Their presence at the auction added a touch of nostalgia and excitement to the proceedings. Bollywood celebrities Rakul Preet Singh and Sonali Bendre also graced the event, lending their glamour to the occasion.
“It was fantastic to see the tennis legends Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza gather together after so many years, to promote tennis in India and support the league,” said Kunal Thakkur, one of the organizers.
Mrunal Jain, co-founder of TPL, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, stating, “The TPL has got off to a memorable start with the auction and promises an exciting season ahead.”
The team rosters are as follows:
* Bengal Wizards: Petra Matic, Sriram Balaji, Niki Poonacha
* Hyderabad Strikers: Harriet Dart, Benjamin Lock, Vishnu Vardhan
* Chennai Smashers: Hugo Gaston, Conny Perrin, Rithvik Bollipalli
* Bengaluru SG Pipers: Max Purcell, Ankita Raina, Anirudh Chandrasekar
* Mumbai Eagles: Jaqueline Cristian, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, Karan Singh
* Gujarat Panthers: Sumit Nagal, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vijay Sundar Prashanth
* Delhi Tigers: Rohan Bopanna, Iryna Shymanovich, Aziz Dougaz
* Punjab Patriots: Elina Avanesyan, Arjun Kadhe, S Mukund
The TPL aims to provide a platform for Indian tennis players to showcase their skills and compete against international stars. The tournament is expected to generate significant interest among tennis enthusiasts and contribute to the growth of the sport in India.
