America avenged the infamy at Pearl Harbour many times, eg Doolittle raid, nuking of Hiroshima/Nagasaki, MacArthur's occupation of Post war Japan. But USA and Japan enjoyed very good relationship today, a blip happens in the 80s, where America saw unfair competition in the automobile industry, the backlash exemplified by the hate crime that killed Vicent Chin. China and Korea are scarred by Japan's activity in the war. The visits by the politicians to the shrine always touched on the feelings of Chinese and Koreans. Also, the textbooks in Japan potrayed Japan as the victim in the war. Let's not forget, the Japanese are a very nationalistic people, even today. It's not a coincidence, foreign companies have a tough time breaking into Japan. Japan is eternally wary of China's competition for hegemony in the Far East. China on the other hand is ruled by left-wing ideology, but the opening of its market resurrect old national pride in the face of foreign competition. No surprise that China wants to create its own brand and grow it. Yonex have served its purpose of technical transfer and 'babysit' the Chinese Badminton industry. China is already dominant in the shuttlecock, badminton shoes & clothing market. Her racquet making industry is overtaking Taiwan and Japan soon. What she lacks is a well developed brand. "Li-Ning" doesn't sound appealing to a person let's say in New York or Abu Dhabi.
Li Ning is no longer a small potato in sportswear. I think it is already bigger than Yonex. I am sure the badminton authority in China signed up with Li Ning purely on commercial basis-more money. Also, in business you can acquire a name in a certain sporting area by buying any corporation with the desired brand name. In badminton, it is sponsorship of top players and top countries that ultimately sell racquets, etc. Quality without it being promoted by great players or nations is useless. It makes more sense for a quality manufacturer with no sponsorship muscle to sell its name/invention to one that is big on sponsorship.
Yes.. Li Ning in fact has been around for years... just that most of their equipment is "within" China. Thats why many is not aware of Brand Li Ning. Making the move in Olympics and now trying to take a share is Badminton is more for international exposure. And Team China badminton has better appeal. You will never know.. maybe Team Malaysia will be sponsored by Li Ning one day as i've already seen some players in Malaysia using Li Ning products.. for fun sake.. no sponsorship deals.
Li Ning has a company incorporated in Hong Hong, see SEHK2331. It has signed many sponsorship agreements and strategic collaborations with the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, NBA, ATP, Basketball and soccer associations in China, athletic teams in Africa, and also in Argentina and Sweden. Li Ning shoes and sportswear are not cheap; in fact they are reasonably of high quality. Do you know the potential size of the Chinese basketball fans? Li Ning has done well with a strategic collaboration agreement with the NBA. I think he may be gunning to sign up even Yao Ming. His biggest promotional stunt was the breathtaking opening ceremony lighting of the Torch. Now every sporting company wants to seek him out as a strategic partner. I think it is in the best interest of Yonex to ask Li Ning to take a substantial stake in Yonex, simply as a long term insurance.
in 2009 Yonex catalog (at Japan website), no more player from China & Korea ... they put LCW, TH and PG .....
May be after LI Ning, we may see ANTA ( another chinese brand in Tennis gear) jump into Badminton business too...ANTA, recently paid big bucks to sponsor Jelena Jankovic
If you look at Yonex's financial in 2008..it did not look good...they spent so much to promote their Tennis gear...
Perhaps the biggest beneficiaries of this 'divorce' by China are Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat. Yonex now needs them and their endorsements more than ever. Taufik's couldn't have chosen a better time to turn 'Professional'
well yeah, perhaps you are right in the western world of thinking but you may be surprised (and i'm not surprised) that China would think the other way... human is the key component to business, without a brain, your money down the drain... look at Lehman Brothers....
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'.
i dont see the connection to the Lehman brothers. Lehman brothers went bankrupt, so business like to go bankrupt? Actually, the fact, past gripes hold back business. your statement 'human is the key component to business, without a brain, your money down the drain...' is vague and not true. E-commerce is multi billion business and increasing leaps and bound. It's flourishing because of its intent to take out the human factor. Take elvis and bruce lee, their business is brisk considering they are both long gone dead. Brains are gone but money keep on rolling in.
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
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.
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
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.
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.