BEIJING, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- China's badminton player Lin Dan, who won gold medals in singles matches at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, has come under fire for signing a sponsorship deal with Japanese sports equipment maker Yonex Co, Japan's Jiji Press reported.China's national team currently uses products made by a major domestic sports equipment maker, but Lin, nicknamed Super Dan, has entered into a solo contract with Yonex.While some China's news media have reported that Lin's decision is a challenge to the country's national sports system, criticism on the Internet has referred to Lin as a traitor due to historical issues and other ongoing disputes between China and Japan.After signing the contract with Yonex in Beijing on Wednesday, Lin said at a press conference that he hopes to win his third gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.Yonex sponsored China's national team for many years before the team switched to domestic sports equipment maker Li Ning Co. in 2009.Lin commented on the Weibo social network site that he has finally returned to Yonex.Some of Lin's fans reacted negatively, saying they will no longer support him and that his decision was a tragedy for the people of China, but others have posted messages of support.
I don't see how changing sponsors can be seen as related to patriotism. What about the food he eats? Should he eat only Chinese food? Would him eating a burger, pasta or steak be seen as a traitor? No one said anything when he was previously sponsored by Yonex, why now?
So the fact that LN exists means any Chinese player not using LN is a traitor? What if LN never existed, would LD still be considered a traitor?
This is laughable, sounds like a dictatorship to me and if you don't comply, you are branded a traitor. This is 2015, I thought we were beyond all that rubbish. Kindest regards, -Ajay- Quote of the Day A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad.
This thread could get dangerously political, and that would be bad. We shall assume that the number of people calling Lin Dan a 'traitor' is insignificant. It would be silly to blow a minority opinion out of proportion and give it serious consideration on these pages. No doubt the great majority would say that LD has done very well for his country by his acheivements. Not my favourite player but, by golly, certainly the best. Good luck Lin Dan!
Just look up from different perspective; This would means, yonex prob. gonna make a new racket after zf2 and vt70etune. Hopefully they release something as good as at700. Wishful thinking.