Li Ning - China's New Sponsor

**cooler** · 02-06-2009, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by Badmintan

I saw that brand ANTA was heavily promoted, much cheaper than the ridiculous price of Addidas/Nike in Beijing, when I was strolling along wangfujing street in late 2007.

I also remember meeting some promoter ladies asking me to try their 'services'

.

then i say yonex can't stand a chance against those extra services being offered

***Oldhand*** · 02-06-2009, 04:09 AM

Li Ning would do well to market several badminton lines - a Lin Dan line, a Bao Chunlai line, a Xie Xingfang line, a Chen Jin line, and even a Tang Xian-hu / Li Yongbo line (free caps included)

**cooler** · 02-08-2009, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Oldhand

Li Ning would do well to market several badminton lines - a Lin Dan line, a Bao Chunlai line, a Xie Xingfang line, a Chen Jin line, and even a Tang Xian-hu / Li Yongbo line (free caps included)

i'm sure li ning saw more marketing upside than yonex, that is why they can outbid yonex. Times is changing, and it is interesting to live in changing time

**RedShuttle** · 02-08-2009, 09:34 PM

It would be interesting to see what the Chinese team will use through Swiss Open.

Clothing and racket bag should be easy to adjust to.

Would it be Kason rackets with YY logo or genuine YY rackets?

The team is presumably training with Kason rackets for at least part of the time. Either way, that may present a golden opportunity for other players to challenge the Chinese team.

***Oldhand*** · 02-08-2009, 09:39 PM

It's hardly the racquet that makes the player.
Lin Dan was a champion with the MP-99.
He is still a champion with the AT-700.

He should be able to do it again with, say, the Whatnot 999

**RedShuttle** · 02-08-2009, 10:39 PM

TSF-300A for Lin Dan? They forgot to make rackets for doubles

***jamesd20*** · 02-10-2009, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Oldhand

Yonex has hordes of groupies trumpeting and blah-blah-ing its merits to the sporting world outside China. Li Ning has none yet for badminton

Maybe we should start it OH?

**LazyBuddy** · 02-11-2009, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by RedShuttle

Either way, that may present a golden opportunity for other players to challenge the Chinese team.

When it's LD's level, I think the racket is just a very small factor. Kason makes very solid rackets, which gain good reputation already. Unless LN/Kason is dumb, they will never want to leave a solid proof as all the CHN champions can never pass 1st round, after switching to another brand of equipment.

Plus, CHN team will definitely give enough time for its pros to get used to the new rackets, before send them for serious matches. It's not like the Pros arrive in tournament empty handed, open the package, and see all completely different rackets with a

on their faces.

***Oldhand*** · 02-11-2009, 10:47 AM

What do you think they have been practicing with all this time?

The entire team must have been using Li Ning / Kason at this preparatory camp.

By the time they hit the AE courts, they will be quite at home with the new brand.

***Oldhand*** · 02-11-2009, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by jamesd20

Maybe we should start it OH?

I'd hate to blow a commercial entity's trumpet unless I were genuinely convinced about its product

***jamesd20*** · 02-11-2009, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Oldhand

I'd hate to blow a commercial entity's trumpet unless I were genuinely convinced about its product

I am pretty sure they will be kason rackets with a different paint job...IMO kason are pretty good...damn I have started already

**twobeer** · 02-11-2009, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Oldhand

What do you think they have been practicing with all this time?

The entire team must have been using Li Ning / Kason at this preparatory camp.

By the time they hit the AE courts, they will be quite at home with the new brand.

If the information that the team china contract ends in April with Yonex, I cannot see how they should be able to use another brand at AE, without contract breach? Or maybe the current contract does end before AE?!?!

/Twobeer

***Oldhand*** · 02-11-2009, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by twobeer

If the information that the team china contract ends in April with Yonex, I cannot see how they should be able to use another brand at AE, without contract breach? Or maybe the current contract does end before AE?!?!

/Twobeer

Oops, if that's the case, we will definitely see China using Yonex at the AE

**taneepak** · 02-11-2009, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Oldhand

Oops, if that's the case, we will definitely see China using Yonex at the AE

Or they can they can pay an early contract termination sum to Yonex.

Li Ning has been hitting the sports news recently. They have just signed up Yelena Isinbayeva, Olympic pole vault champion and IAAF female athlete of the year, reported to be worth US$1.5 million/each year for 5 years. Li NIng has also signed up speed king Usain Bolt, and this one must be real big bucks.
Li Ning has also signed up NBA stars Shaquille O'neal of the Phoenix Suns and Baron Davis of LA Clippers.

**madbad** · 02-12-2009, 02:37 AM

Has anyone visited their website?
http://www.lining.com/EN/home/index.html

Must say it's rather underwhelming

**Destricto_Ense** · 02-12-2009, 05:29 AM

Heh, they'll have to come up with a more convincing url than "lining".com for the brand to catch on globally.

***jamesd20*** · 02-12-2009, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by taneepak

Or they can they can pay an early contract termination sum to Yonex.

Li Ning has been hitting the sports news recently. They have just signed up Yelena Isinbayeva, Olympic pole vault champion and IAAF female athlete of the year, reported to be worth US$1.5 million/each year for 5 years. Li NIng has also signed up speed king Usain Bolt, and this one must be real big bucks.

That is impressive the most marketable Male & Female athletes in the world currently. Obviously on a very agressive brand awareness drive.