Hyderabad Hotshots is the name of the badminton franchise team which represents the city of Hyderabad in the Indian Badminton League. This team is enlisted among the six franchises that form the inaugural IBL 2013. A multi business group of Andhra Pradesh known as PVP Ventures is the owner of this franchise. Gachibowli indoor stadium situated in Hyderabad serves as the primary home ground of Hyderabad Hotshots.
Presently, the badminton queen Saina Nehwal serves as the captain of the team Hyderabad Hotshots. The team is coached by Mr. Rajendra. Taufik Hidayat, the world badminton legend is also the member of the team. He is an Indonesian badminton player who owns the credit of being the World and Olympic champion in men`s singles category.
Formation of Hyderabad Hotshots
On the announcement Badminton Association of India a franchise league was formed known as Indian Badminton League which included six franchises as the representatives of six Indian cities. The chairman of PVP Ventures, Mr Prasad V Potluri had a great interest in sports and thus he was the first person to bid for Hyderabad Hotshots and subsequently owned it. Auctions of the first round player took place on July 22, 2013. The player auction was organized in Delhi. The chief coach of Hotshots is J Rajendra Kumar, who is a coach at Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad.
Current Team of Hyderabad Hotshots
The current squad of Hyderabad Hotshots comprises both Indian and foreign players. Indian players of the squad include Saina Nehwal, Shubhankar Dey, Tarun Kona, Ajay Jayaram, Kanthi Visalakshi, Pradnya Gadre and Rahul C Yadav whereas the foreign players include Taufik Hidayat, Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, Goh V Shem and Lim Khim Wah. In the 2013 season, Hyderabad Hotshots defeated Pune Pistons in semi finals and entered into the finals. In the final, which was held on 31 August 2013 at National Sports Club of India, Mumbai, they played against Awadhe Warriors and recorded their splendid victory.
Hyderabad Hotshots won 3 of 5 matches in the league stage and topped the table with 17 points. They lost to Krrish Delhi Smashers and Banga Beats. Hotshots won against Awadhe Warriors twice this year (once in the league and in final). In the team`s opener, they won 3-2 against Warriors and in the final; the winning margin was 3-1. Saina Nehwal, Hyderabad`s icon player, won all her 7 matches. She remained unbeaten in the leauge. Saina won the "Player of the tournament" award. She pocketed $1,000 for the same. Hotshots received a cheque of Rs 3.25 crores for winning the first edition of IBL. Saina was the costliest female player in IBL. She was bought by Hyderabad for $120,000.
