Rio kit sponsor fumes over violations
LI NING HAD A CASH-PLUS-KITTING DEAL OF OVER `3 CRORE WITH THE IOA FOR THE RIO GAMES
As India rejoices over women power after PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik ensured the country didn’t return empty-handed from the Rio Olympics, the contingent’s sponsor is fuming over contract breach. Li Ning, the Chinese firm named after the champion gymnast and official apparel sponsor of the Indian contingent, is fuming over violations by silver medallist Sindhu, fellow shuttler Kidambi Srikanth and a few others.
Sindhu wore the dress of rival Yonex in many of her matches. Same was the case with beaten quarterfinalist Srikanth. Li Ning had a cash-plus-kitting deal of over `3 crore with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the Rio Games.
In a series of mails, Li Ning has raised the issue with the IOA. The matter may end up in court as the stars failed to adhere to directions to wear the sponsored kit. Yonex is contracted with many of the Indian badminton stars.
Sources said national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand was informed of the violations in Rio but nothing was done. “The players wore what they were comfortable in,” Gopichand had told HT after Sindhu’s loss in the final.
“We have received complaints from Li Ning about a few violations,” IOA secretary-general Rajiv Mehta told HT. “We had spoken to the federation (Badminton Association of India) about the complaints.”
Gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who finished fourth in the vault event, and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, too were in violation. Yogeshwar had a SAIL logo on his singlet during the first-round loss to Mongolia’s Ganzorig Mandakhnaran. Dipa wore a Shiv Naresh kit for her routines. She switched to Li Ning after being told of the violation.
Mahender Kapoor, Li Ning’s managing director (South Asia), said they were consulting lawyers. “I’ll not blame the players, but we have written to the IOA about these violations,” he said.
Mehta pleaded helplessness. “We did our job as we informed the federation. We were apprehensive of telling the players directly as they were doing well and didn’t want to break their momentum. I am expecting this matter to go to court,” he said, when asked why the IOA did not take up the issue with the players.
Kapoor rubbished the argument that players wore other brands as they were comfortable in them. “I have confirmation mails from the athletes, including the badminton players. They all said they were happy with the fitting.”