By Nick Butler

Hyderabad Hotshots celebrate winning the inaugural Indian Badminton League in 2013 ©Hindustan Times/Getty ImagesApril 22 - A hectic international schedule is likely to force the second edition of the Indian Badminton League (IBL) to be pushed back to early 2015 instead of being held later this year.

The inaugural edition of the league, based on the successful premise of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, was held in August 2013, with a second edition due to run between September 30 and October 15. 

But, although last year's event was hailed as a huge success by fans and players as well as the corporate world, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) is set to delay the second event until February 2015 to avoid congestion and clashes with many other events set for later this year.

In addition to four rounds of the Badminton World Federation SuperSeries in October and November, this includes the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from July 23 to August 3, and the Asian Games in Incheon from September 19 to October 4.  

Due to the need to prepare and recover as well as participate in these events, this is likely to mean that many top players will be unavailable for parts of the tournament, something which organisers are keen to avoid. 

World number eight Saina Nehwal is one Indian player set to be preoccupied with the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games this summer ©AFP/Getty ImagesWorld number eight Saina Nehwal is one Indian player set to be preoccupied with the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games this summer
©AFP/Getty Images




"The first edition of the IBL was a grand success and badminton lovers are eagerly awaiting the second season," said TPS Puri, the BAI vice-president for administration,

"However, we want to ensure that all the top players are available for the tournament and that looks difficult this year due to the busy international schedule.

"Though a final call is yet to be taken, we are considering the option of holding the tournament early next year." 

The Indian Badminton League consists of six franchises representing the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Lucknow as well as Hyderabad, with matches consisting of home and away legs against each side before knockout matches.

The composition of each team is decided by a players auction, and must include a combination of male, female and junior players.

Among those who took part in the inaugural edition was Malaysia's world number one Lee Chong Wei and the Athens 2004 men's singles champion Taufik Hidayat, as well as a number of top European players. 

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