Indian athletes will go unbranded in Tokyo Olympics: Rijiju

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday that India's athletes will not wear branded apparel in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, despite the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) claiming that it is looking for a new partner after dropping Chinese sportswear company Li Ning as the country's Olympic kit sponsor.

After terminating relations with Li Ning on Tuesday, IOA president Narinder Batra told the media that the National Olympic Committee (NOC) was trying to find a new kit sponsor for the contingent by the end of the month.

Rijiju tweetedt: "At the Tokyo Olympics, Indian athletes, coaches, and support personnel would not be wearing any branded clothing. Only 'INDIA' will be written on our athletes' uniforms"

Indian athletes, coaches and support staff, won't be wearing any branded apparel at Tokyo Olympics.
Only 'INDIA' will be written in the kits of our athletes. pic.twitter.com/L0mql1D96s

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 9, 2021

Meanwhile, Batra stated that a new sponsor is being sought within the time frame provided.

"The process (of seeking a new sponsor) is on, but we only have so much time. We don't want to put anyone under stress and force them to join us. It must be based on mutual consent" said Batra.

"By the end of the month, we'll have to decide whether or not to go unbranded. Our athletes' uniforms are ready, and we need to get them to them as soon as possible." Sunlight Sports, the official distributor of Li Ning products in India, said it respected the IOA's decision due to the country's current "fluctuating conditions."

Meanwhile, Batra stated that a new sponsor is being sought within the time frame provided.

"The process (of seeking a new sponsor) is on, but we only have so much time. We don't want to put anyone under stress and force them to join us. It must be based on mutual consent" said Batra.

"By the end of the month, we'll have to decide whether or not to go unbranded. Our athletes' uniforms are ready, and we need to get them to them as soon as possible." Sunlight Sports, the official distributor of Li Ning products in India, said it respected the IOA's decision due to the country's current "fluctuating conditions."

"Sunlight Sports respects the current global circumstances and changing realities in the country and has consented to allow the Indian Olympic Association to arrange the official sports outfit of the Indian Olympic squad locally," IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said in a statement.

"Last week, the IOA showcased Olympic equipment in the presence of Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, prompting significant criticism, as Chinese enterprises had faced pushback following last year's military standoff in eastern Ladakh.

"The Sports Ministry then encouraged the Olympic body to cut connections with the corporation, according to reports. The decision to dismiss Li Ning, as per the IOA chief, was made in the public interest.

""I'm not going to name any companies or individuals, but the decision was made only when we began to receive criticism from all sides, including the media, in the aftermath of the announcement. We made this decision with public opinion in mind," Batra explained.

"According to Batra, the focus for the IOA and the Sports Ministry is the preparation of the country's Olympic-bound athletes as well as the logistics of their travel to Tokyo for the quadrennial Games. Raymonds is sponsoring the official ceremonial kits, while Li Ning was the official apparel partner.

""With widely dispersed training camps and an ever-changing Covid-19 scenario in India, the IOA has experienced unprecedented logistical hurdles in satisfying the exact wardrobe requirements of participating Indian athletes," according to an IOA statement released on Wednesday.

""As a result of these problems, the Indian Olympic Association asked Sunlight Sports to allow IOA to appoint local manufacturers knowledgeable with athletes' apparel measurements to design and supply sports kitting for the Indian Olympic squad," the statement continued.

"Furthermore, the IOA chief also shot down claims that India, along with nine other countries, could be disqualified from competing in the Tokyo Olympics due to an increase in Covid-19 cases in those countries.

""All of these are rumours in the media. We haven't heard anything about this from the IOC (International Olympic Committee) or the organisers," as per Batra.

""Nonetheless, we have requested that the IOC & Tokyo Games organisers provide us with a clear picture. In terms of Covid cases and fatality rates, India is still ahead of most other countries."

"According to a Malaysian media source, the Japanese government has requested the Games organising committee to consider barring admittance to ten countries, including India, due to a recent spike in Covid cases.

"Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom are among the countries on the probable "no entrance list," according to the report. The organisers of the Games, on the other hand, have dismissed the rumours.