MUMBAI: India’s premier male badminton star Kidambi Srikanth has signed a four-year deal with leading Chinese sports brand Li-Ning.
Li-Ning will replace Yonex as Srikanth’s kit sponsor, the latter having been associated with the player since 2016.
The Li-Ning deal is valued at Rs 350 million, comprising of sponsorship & equipment supply, according an official release. Li-Ning operates in India through its multinational exclusive partner Sunlight Sports Pte Ltd.
The brand was the official sponsor of the Indian contingent at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and is also the Team India’s official apparel partner till the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. For the record, Li-Ning also kits the China, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia teams for badminton.
Sunlight Sports director Mahender Kapoor said: “Srikanth is among the top badminton players in the world and already the most accomplished Indian male badminton player and a World No.1 player. Li Ning stands for quality and consistency and Srikanth fits the bill perfectly. We want to play our part in helping Srikanth achieve a lot more going forward.”
Srikanth stated: “I am honored to be the face of Li Ning in India and globally. I love their products and I’m really looking forward to stepping on the court with a renewed vigor to accomplish a few more goals that I have set for myself and keep bring laurels for my country.”
The deal was brokered by Baseline Ventures, which represents that badminton star and recently added Bank of Baroda and ITM Group to his sponsor kitty.
“We were really impressed with the road map and vision of the brand Li-Ning for Srikanth and the team handling Li-Ning is completely hands-on and dynamic, which is so important for a top athlete like Srikanth. We look forward to a great association over the next four years,” Baseline Ventures MD Tuhin Mishra said.
The Forbes India Celebrity 100 list in 2018 ranked Srikanth at 87th, with an estimating Rs 105 million in earnings.
