NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will review its tie-up with sportswear maker Li Ning following a public backlash against Chinese companies though Vivo will stay on as title sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL), sports officials told Reuters.
A wave of anti-China sentiment has led the IOA to reconsider its association with Chinese company Li Ning, its apparel partner.
There have also been demands on social media for Chinese smartphone maker Vivo to be dropped as the title sponsor of the country’s popular of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal questioned whether dropping Vivo, which bagged the 2018-22 IPL title rights for 21.9 billion rupees ($287.21 million), would serve any purpose.
“People are naturally emotional but we have to differentiate — whether it’s helping the Chinese companies, or their sponsorship is helping India’s cause,” Dhumal told Reuters.
Dhumal said the BCCI would not engage any Chinese company in stadium construction but sponsorship was a different issue.