Li Ning offers backing to badminton academy

18 February 2011 | Posted in Sponsorship, Badminton, Asia | By Tom Love

Singaporean badminton player Ronald Susilo has secured a financial boost from Chinese sporting goods company Li Ning.

Susilo, of Chinese-Indonesian origin, has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal worth US$304,456 on the final day of celebrations for the Chinese New Year. The agreement will serve to boost the former badminton player’s budding academy, the Ronald Susilo Badminton Academy.

According to local reports, half of the sponsorship will be paid in instalments over the three-year period, helping with the purchase of equipment and clothing. Additionally, Susilo, the former world number six, has been appointed as a brand ambassador for Li Ning and head coach of the Chinese Swimming Club Li-Ning Badminton Academy.

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Susilo said of the sponsorship: "The money will be put to good use, providing my academy's players with good apparel and equipment. It can also be used to send the players to competitions overseas, to let them have more exposure and playing time.”

"We need to develop in players an interest in the sport and get them to be serious about taking up badminton," said Susilo.

Li-Ning's South-east Asia general manager, Vivien Lim added: "Ronald's a Singapore badminton icon who can be a role model for youth to look up to."

Li Ning already provides clothing and uniforms to the Chinese and Singaporean national badminton teams. The growing Chinese company, who have sponsorship deals in numerous sports and with various athletes, are also the title sponsor of badminton’s Singapore Open until 2013.

Ronald Susilo joined the Singapore Badminton Association at the age of 19 and was national flag-bearer of Singapore at the 2004 Olympics opening ceremony in Athens. The 31-year old also represented his native Singapore at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, losing to number two seed Lee Chong Wei in the men's singles round of 32.