Source: EYEPRESS Images/F.L Wong
[Saba Sports News] According to South Korean media Chosun Ilbo, a “money war” is unfolding in South Korean badminton. Chinese enterprise Li-Ning Sports Products Co., Ltd. is competing by increasing its bid to secure An Se-young, the top female player in South Korea. In May, the Korea Badminton Association officially approved personal sponsorship contracts for major equipment such as rackets, shoes, and protective gear. On June 18, South Korean media reported that Yonex offered An Se-young an annual salary of 200 million KRW, breaking the record for the highest salary in South Korea. At that time, industry insiders said both sides were entering the final stage of contract negotiations, and the signing was expected to happen soon. However, An Se-young’s side stated that they were carefully negotiating and hinted that the negotiation range had narrowed down to two companies. It now appears that the other company is not the former national team sponsor Victory, but rather China’s major sports brand, Li-Ning. It is reported that Li-Ning had already been in close contact with An Se-young’s team through South Korean distributors before the Korea Badminton Association officially allowed personal sponsorships, and proposed a four-year contract worth 2.5 million per year (about 3.5 billion KRW). Over four years, that totals 10 million, which can be considered a huge sum for An Se-young’s team.