NEWS : Badminton is $4.2m brighter

[kwun]

Badminton is $4.2m brighter




Yonex-Sunrise ties five-year deal with SBA in second largest sports sponsorship



By Chia Han Keong - Straits Times

SINGAPORE badminton joined the million-dollar club yesterday when it announced a five-year, $4.2-million partnership with Yonex-Sunrise.

It is the second biggest sports sponsorship deal in Singapore, after Tiger Beer agreed to pump in $15 million over 10 years with the Football Association of Singapore in 2001.

The five-year partnership is largely in kind, and will benefit shuttlers of all competitive levels. Yonex-Sunrise will supply equipment and apparel to Singapore Badminton Association's youth, junior and national teams, as well as support local activities.

After two fruitful years on foreign courts, the deal is a clear indication that success will only attract the big money.

With the Republic's shuttlers bagging one Commonwealth Games gold, one South-east Asia Games gold and one five-star Open victory in the last two years, Yonex-Sunrise managing director Dalip Kumar Seth has confidence in the deal's success.

He said: 'Definitely, there is something cooking in the badminton fraternity. The association and its players are passionate in pushing the sport to a higher level.'

Then, to thunderous applause, he added: 'If Malaysia boleh, Singapore pun boleh!'

Boleh means can in Malay. The phrase literally means 'can also'.

Previously, the company had sponsorship contracts with individual players.

It also inked a three-year, $2.1-million deal in 2001 as the main sponsor for the Singapore Open.

With the new partnership, SBA president Lim Swee Say believes that the association's resources will be better deployed in player development.

He said: 'In the past, we had to buy equipment from Yonex-Sunrise for our players. Now that they can get these equipment for free, we can channel our finances to organising more tournaments for our youngsters.'

Will the deal translate into more medals and silverware?

Mr Lim would not say for certain, but he is sure that the elite players need not worry about bursting their racket strings any more.

He cited one example: 'When Ronald Susilo was playing his semi-final against Wong Choon Hann at the 2002 Singapore Open, his favourite racket's strings burst.

'He did not have an exact replacement and so had to use another model. He might have won that match, but he may not be so lucky against other opponents.'

Susilo confirmed the incident, adding: 'That model cost almost $500, so I bought only one.

'When I switched the rackets, I could instantly feel the difference in the weight, how hard I can smash.

'It will affect how I play, and it may be crucial in tight matches.

'I hope with this deal, I can have a few of my favourite rackets, just in case the strings break again.'

[cooler]

IMO, this article:
- say that badminton is #2 most popular sport
- racquet DOES matter to the pros especially when the (ranking) level difference is small.

[cheongsa]

Doesn't say that.

Soccer is definitely the most visible sport, with largest number of people playing, largest number of people spectating (live matches and TV), and largest number of people betting (oops!)...

Badminton is very widely played, but not that many people spectating (live matches once a year, and few telecasts), and probably zero people betting. However, I am not sure it is the second most visible sport in Singapore.

IMO, the second most visible sport in Singapore is basketball.

As for racket, I am surprised that Ronald Susilo paid for his own MP99 (that's the S$500 racket he mentioned). With his pay, I guess he can only afford one. Always thought he was sponsored by Yonex...

[Pecheur]

Originally Posted by cheongsa

As for racket, I am surprised that Ronald Susilo paid for his own MP99 (that's the S$500 racket he mentioned). Always thought he was sponsored by Yonex...

There's a couple of questions here, how the hell does any MP99 cost $500 SG, I mean you could import a MP99 JP for less than $300 SG, I'm sure you could even get a CN for $400 easily.

I also thought he was sponsored ...

[Brave_Turtle]

Maybe we should tell those players where to get cheap racquet

[cooler]

Originally Posted by cheongsa

Doesn't say that.

Soccer is definitely the most visible sport, with largest number of people playing, largest number of people spectating (live matches and TV), and largest number of people betting (oops!)...

Badminton is very widely played, but not that many people spectating (live matches once a year, and few telecasts), and probably zero people betting. However, I am not sure it is the second most visible sport in Singapore.

IMO, the second most visible sport in Singapore is basketball.

As for racket, I am surprised that Ronald Susilo paid for his own MP99 (that's the S$500 racket he mentioned). With his pay, I guess he can only afford one. Always thought he was sponsored by Yonex...

sorry, i was referring to badminton being No. 2** popularity in the world. It's not in SG since it required assistance from yonex and sunrise.

** #2 in participation because mostly of china's population. In regards to spectator? hmmm, i vaguely remember a news clip saying that badminton had the most TV people watching the olympic badminton, i forgot for which year tho (92, 96, 2000??)

[cheongsa]

Originally Posted by Pecheur

There's a couple of questions here, how the hell does any MP99 cost $500 SG, I mean you could import a MP99 JP for less than $300 SG, I'm sure you could even get a CN for $400 easily.

I also thought he was sponsored ...

Last June I went to the Yonex-Sunrise shop at Far East Plaza, it was selling for S$500++...

But when I was back in Singapore again in Dec, some sports chain was selling MP99 at an offer price of S$300++.

Ronald must have bought it way before there was any offer?