I must repeat that my post is based on 'what I know' By no means is this to be read as a confirmation. It's just Lin Dan for now.
Interesting. Is Li Ning in such financial dark hole to match Adidas offer or Lin Dan wants to use the Adidas's influence to become a global star? If true, it would mean that Lin Dan is setting his sight on the Rio gold. Combining that with Adidas power, that would be great news to badminton.
Unfortunately yes as discussed in: http://www.badmintoncentral.com/for...1-Li-Ning-not-in-good-financial-shape-in-2013
If LD switches to Adidas, it would explain the clash with LYB. Li Ning does not sponsor the players, it sponsors the whole team, previously like Yonex for Indonesia. So Lin Dan brake the rule? When the Thai team wanted to impose such a team-contract, the players went on strike so to be allowed to keep their personal endorsement. We can guess that Lin Dan went into a "personal strike", so we did not see him with the National Team. But maybe this is just a negotiation tool for Lin Dan. Somehow if the whole team stays with a Chinese brand and he alone goes with a foreign one, it will upset some of the fans and dent his image.
Thanks for raising the issue. Li Ning has been overly optimistic or even naive about its market positioning. It seems that the day of reckoning is finally here. Anyhow, Li Ning has done quite a lot for badminton, hope it can pull through its current difficulties.
It will be interesting if Lin Dan sign up with Adidas. Definitely will be a big boost for Adidas as he has so many fans. Not surprised to see the model he using become the most sought after racquet. If this come to pass, wonder which model he will be using as none of the Adidas racquets are as stiff and head heavy as the ones he is used to.
Not sure if Adidas has any expertise in rackets of any kind. Given their financial resources, it should be easy to buy up some specialty shops to make rackets. Maybe Sotx?
Adidas don't need to buy another brand. They have been doing R&D way before launching the product range. It's time for their 2nd generation to be in final stages of planning. Perhaps they wil coincide it with LD sponsorship announcement ?
Who is doubtful, you or Li-Ning? Deny and deny outright but when the facts are too glaring for all the world to see, then discredit and discredit. Pathetic. Even if a sponsor only supported one event, we should still be appreciative. And what's Li-Ning doing in INA and going into IND? Just ask BWF what Li-Ning has been doing all these years. Talk is cheap but such talk is worse.
From what I've read on BC, it seems that a number of their rackets are actually not bad. Adidas has not gained as much market share as they would've liked to since launch. But signing up LD would be a step in the right direction and I'm sure if proven to be true, then sales would increase quite dramatically.
It should also not be forgotten that competition is a driver of further success. Without Li-Ning in the picture, it would only be Yonex and Victor left as the two "mega" brands. 3 brands competing will see more innovation than just the 2.
Li-Ning did its own R&D but also bought up Kason. If Adidas wants to expand its badminton presence quickly, it doesn't hurt to have Sotx in its fold, either as an in-house OEM or second brand to cover the whole range. Then again, Adidas may not like the Li-Ning experiment and want to try something else.