TPL 2019: Leander Paes's franchise backs youngsters during auctions

Indian tennis ace Leander Paes went in with a unique strategy at the auction of the second season of the Tennis Premier League. Paes will back youngsters Niki Poonacha and Aryan Goveas at the TPL 2019, having picked both of them up at Rs 2.25 lakh and 1.25 lakh respectively. The Indian tennis legend is the co-owner of the franchise, Mumbai Leon Army along with Sukhwant Basra. Paes will also serve as the mentor of the team.

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Indian stars fetch big

India’s top players fetched high prices. There was a tough fight among all the teams for their bragging rights. Saketh Myeni (Delhi Binny’s Brigade), Vishnu Vardhan (Bengaluru Hawks), Somdev Devvarman (Gujarat Panthers), Jeevan Neduncheriyan (Punjab Bulls) and Purav Raja (Pune Warriors) all fetched ₹2.25 Lakh each. Ankita Raina (Delhi Binny’s Brigade), Pranjala Yedapalli (Punjab Bulls), Mahak Jain (Gujarat Panthers) and Rutuja Bhosale (Pune Warriors) all fetched ₹1.5 Lakh each. There was an encouraging response for the young players in the country, especially in the U-18 girls and U-14 boys categories.

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Leander Paes has won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. He aims to provide a bigger platform for tennis players in the country. A Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee, Paes believes that the TPL 2019 is an opportunity for players to showcase their talents. The Tennis Premier League is presented by the Kunal Thakur Tennis and Fitness Academy (KTTAFA). It has got the support from Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) and the All India Tennis Association (AITA). 

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The TPL’s second edition will be held at the Celebration Sports Club, Andheri, Mumbai from December 12-15 2019. The tournament will have eight teams with eight players competing for the title. Each team has to have one celebrity representative. The likes Rashmi Desai, Sumona Chakravarti and Niti Taylor are all set to be a part of the TPL 2019. The total prize fund for the tournament is ₹60 Lakh.

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