Current and retired players play in CBSL and IBL for the money. Whether the leaques make money or lose a bundle, or the stadiums are half empty, provided the money flows through, these players will play these leaques games whether they are still recovering from recent injury. In IBL, the paychecks were really good for 1-2 week of exhibition, 'fun' baddy.
Tine and TH were retired, what's Tine playing XD with LCW and TH paid USD75K, that is equal to a shipload of ruppees in INA. LCW paid USD135K, that alone is like 3-4 SS wins and SS win is way more stressful, tough than these leaque games. These players are lucky to get drafted by these leaque teams, easy money in the bank.
No doubt the players, whether locals or foreigners, are in it for the money as I've stated. But at the same time, the foreign players are fully aware of the intense high-level competition they face in the league, so not really easy money -ask Taufik how he fared last year, losing to a certain Dong Shuai. Incidentally, Intanon lost to LXR and Wang Lin (and one other player whom I can't recall offhand) in the league last year.
As for Intanon, she chose not to play at IBL this year (maybe next year ?) and signed up another 3-yr contract to play at CBSL which this season will spread across nine months. Her stint last year has reaped rewards for her in terms of the high level of competition which improved her game significantly, including the benefit of a provincial coach and an interpreter. And LCW this season will cross swords with Lin Dan perhaps twice in home and away matches and over time should encounter all the cream of the crop in CHN such as Chen Long, DuPY, WZM,Tian HW, Xue Song, Huang YX, the list goes on.
The thing is all the matches played are for real,not for exhibition, everybody wants to win with each match won earning bonus and the biggest prize money goes to the club champion, followed by the runner-up, etc. The foreign players who performed well are invited back or poached by other clubs the following year for a higher prize. This year LCW is playing for Guangdong New Century City, can't remember which club he represented last year.
For CBA, playing in the league for monetary gains is secondary for the national players and the risks of injury is of utmost concern, even for the non-elite players, perhaps not so critical for retired players such as Li Yu (who is also a provincial coach), Bao CL, Zheng Bo and Chen Jin (now a national coach).
The CBSL this new season is spread over 9 months from 28th Sep this month to 5th Jun 2014, not 1-2 weeks as in IBL or about 2 months as in last year's CBSL season. Therefore, LCW's earning USD135K in IBL for less than 2 weeks' work,'exhibition' or 'fun' is easy money but comparatively much less so in CBSL, esp when you factor in the relatively much tougher opponents match after match.
How I wish the Singapore players are invited to play in the CBSL, the money gained is secondary while the gain in 'training', coaching and the experience of high level intense competition are invaluable for any player's development.
