TPL Season 8 Auction: Top Bids Hit Rs 13 Lakh
Sofia Costoulas, Sofya Lansere, Iryna Shymanovich, and Dhakshineswar Suresh emerge as joint highest bidders at the Tennis Premier League Season 8 auction.
The Tennis Premier League (TPL) Season 8 Player Auction concluded in Mumbai on Tuesday, setting the stage for an intense upcoming season. In a high-stakes bidding war, four players emerged as the joint-highest acquisitions, each fetching a staggering Rs 13 lakh.
The Big Winners: Four Players Secure Top Bids
The auction, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai, saw franchises aggressively competing to build championship-caliber squads. The top earners of the session were:
- Sofia Costoulas (Belgium)
- Sofya Lansere (Russia)
- Iryna Shymanovich (Belarus)
- Dhakshineswar Suresh (India)
The event was attended by tennis legends including Leander Paes, Sania Mirza, and Rohan Bopanna, alongside celebrities Rakul Preet Singh and Sonali Bendre. Amruta Fadnavis graced the ceremony as the chief guest.
Franchise Breakdown: Building the Squads
With eight franchises competing, the auction focused on a blend of international stars and rising Indian talent. The season is scheduled to take place at the LB Tennis Stadium in Hyderabad from December 8 to 13.
Defending Champions: GS Delhi Aces
The defending champions, led by Adam Walton, made a massive move by securing Belgium's Sofia Costoulas for Rs 13 lakh. A standout performer from Season 7, Costoulas currently holds a WTA ranking of 159. The Aces also added India's Rithvik Choudhary Bollipalli for Rs 7 lakh.
Gujarat Panthers and Hyderabad Strikers
The Gujarat Panthers, anchored by Alexandre Muller, secured Iryna Shymanovich for Rs 13 lakh. They also brought in Indian veteran Ramkumar Ramanathan for Rs 7 lakh. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Strikers, led by Dino Prizmic, landed Russia's Sofya Lansere for Rs 13 lakh to bolster their roster.
Gurgaon Grand Slammers and Rajasthan Rangers
The Gurgaon Grand Slammers, led by Rohan Bopanna, secured Shrivalli Bhamidipaty for Rs 7 lakh and Germany's Daniel Masur for Rs 7.10 lakh. The Rajasthan Rangers, anchored by Rinky Hijikata, picked up Indian specialist Sriram Balaji for Rs 8 lakh and Russia's Anastasia Zolotareva for Rs 7.30 lakh.
Kolkata Thunder Blades and Mumbai Royals
Kolkata Thunder Blades, led by World No. 56 Roman Burruchaga, acquired China's Fangran Tian for Rs 9.20 lakh and Anirudh Chandrasekar for Rs 7.20 lakh. The Mumbai Royals, anchored by Terence Atmane, signed Niki Poonacha for Rs 7.20 lakh and Croatia's Tara Wuerth for Rs 7 lakh.