Reacting to upsurge in anti-China sentiment among Indians, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday parted their ways with the Chinese sportswear Li Ning as it’s official kit sponsor.
IOA president, Narinder Batra on Wednesday said that they are in search for a new kit sponsor by the end of this month. Batra said that the process of finding a new sponsor is in progress but time in our hand is limited. We don’t want to put pressure on anyone and have them on board under duress. It has to be on mutual agreement.
the IOA had unveiled the Olympic kit designed by Li Ning last week in the presence of sports minister Kiren Rijiju, which led to widespread criticism as Chinese companies had faced opposition after last year’s military face-off between the two countries in eastern Ladakh.
Whereas, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that the Indian athletes will go unbranded in the upcoming Tokyo Games even after IOA is on a search for a new partner. “Indian athletes, coaches and support staff, won’t be wearing any branded apparel at Tokyo Olympics. Only ‘INDIA’ will be written in the kits of our athletes,” Rijiju tweeted.
