That’s Saina Nehwal training on the eve of the finals of the Indian Badminton League (IBL). India’s best player will have to play at a venue which is highly under-prepared to host the finals.

You just need to walk in to the newly inaugurated stadium at National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Mumbai to understand the point. The stadium is miles away from being a world class facility. The pathway leading to the upper tier of the spectator seating area is dirty and the walls are crying for a paintjob. Paint stains can be seen at many places on the floor. At other places, girders make themselves visible. The toilets are clean, but they could have been better. Some of the unfinished work has been masked using hoardings and standees. The playing area and the spectator seats are the only saving grace.

The organisers seem to have ignored the fact that it is finally the spectators which make the game come alive. Even players like playing for an audience. The organisers should have atleast ensured that the infrastructure is of the highest level. Sure the tournament was tailor made for TV, but the spectators paying as high as Rs 1200 deserve a better deal. IPL has been successful because of the support from its fans. Aren’t there lessons to be learnt there

The format of the tournament is also questionable. The tournament takes a lot from cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL). When there is a clear concept of home and away teams, why not utilise it to the fore. It would have been a great way to market IBL as well. For instance, the first game in Mumbai was played between Hyderabad hotshots and Pune Pistons. A loyal fan base, however, is a better option simply because it is more sustainable in the long run when the current crop of players retires. Promoting the home team concept can also help the franchisees earn additional income through selling merchandise, something IPL’s Mumbai Indians are so good at. Instead of focussing on the game itself, the organisers marketed the entire tournament using the big names.

Another issue were the timings. While the organisers maintained that the 8 pm start was for the office crowd, the matches lasted as long as 12.30-1 am. These timings are certainly not feasible for someone who uses public transport. Is it possible to get any public transport at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune at 1 am? This situation could have been averted by simply having a 7 pm start or playing two games on all weekends.

IBL has shown how far we still have to go to make this league of international standards. While many people have dismissed these as teething issues, some of these problems could have been averted by foresight. After all, you don’t want to lose the golden goose before it starts hatching eggs.