Local badminton received a huge boost on Monday, after leading sports brand Li—Ning signed a four—year deal worth $8.8 million with the Singapore national sports association.The agreement will see the company equip national team players and fund all major tournaments in the Republic.
"Li—Ning’s generous sponsorship will help us accomplish many things that we could not do before and we hope to bring badminton to the next level of excellence," said Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) president Lee Yi Shyan on Monday.
Last year, Li—Ning splashed out $1 million in a tie—up on equipment sponsorship with the SBA.
The new deal sees a significant increase in the value of the sponsorship, which includes both a cash injection as well as equipment.
Li—Ning will also be the title sponsors of the annual US$200,000 ($ 282,452) Singapore Open Super Series from June 15—20.
The Super Series, which includes the prestigious All England Championships, is a 12—event global tournament. From 2004 to 2009 the Singapore leg was backed by Aviva and that partnership ended last year.
The hosting rights for the Singapore leg are up for renewal from 2011, and Vivien Seong, SBA’s business and corporate services manager, said: "We will know in March if the Badminton World Federation (BWF) will continue to include us in the Super Series next year. But the Singapore Open has always been well—received and I am confident we will continue to be in it."
Seong said Li—Ning will continue backing the tournament once the SBA get the nod from the BWF. The company will also sponsor seven other tournaments here, including the Singapore International Series and various school championships.
National players will be given the option of using Li—Ning’s kit when they are participating in tournaments like the Malaysian and Japan Opens in their individual capacities, but not when they are officially representing Singapore.
"When they play for the country in events such as the SEA Games, they must wear our sponsored kit," said Seong.
