SRIKANTH SIGNS ~35 CRORE SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

NEW DELHI : Kidambi Srikanth signed a four year ~35-crore sports sponsorship deal with Chinese brand Li-ning on Monday. The former world No 1, who is the only Indian badminton player to have won six Super Series events, signed a four-year deal with the premium Chinese sports brand which will comprise of sponsorship and equipment supply, a release said. “I’m looking forward to stepping on the court with a renewed vigour to accomplish few more goals that I have set for myself and keep bring laurels for my country,” Srikanth said.

Li-ning has been supporting the badminton teams of China, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia and was also the official sponsor of the Indian contingent at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. It is also

India’s official apparel partner till the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where Srikanth will be one of the foremost Olympic medal contender hopes for India.

Ishan Kishan to lead Board XI against England Lions

NEW DELHI : Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan will lead Board President’s XI in a three day warm-up game against England Lions in Thiruvananthapuram from January 18-20. The players involved in the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals have not been considered for selection, said the BCCI in a statement. Jharkhand’s left-arm spinner Pappu Roy, rookie Mumbai fast bowler Tushar Deshpande, Andhra batsman Ricky Bhui have earned their places in the side. Deshpande, who has been injured for the better part of the season, has been called as the national selectors alongside Virat Kohli wants to increase the pool of fast bowlers.

Board President XI squad: Ishan Kishan (capt), Rituraj Gaekwad, Anmolpreet Singh, Deepak Hooda, Rajat Pattidar, Ricky Bhui, Himmat Singh, Mayank Markande, Jayant Yadav, Pappu Roy, Pankaj Jaiswal, Tushar Deshpande, Navdeep Saini.