India drop Chinese kit sponsor ahead of Tokyo Games

IOA drops Li Ning as official Olympic kit sponsor after backlash

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has dropped Chinese sportswear maker Li Ning as its official kit partner citing public sentiment in the country, saying its athletes will wear unbranded apparel at the Tokyo Games instead. Chinese companies have faced a backlash in India since 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in a Himalayan border dispute last year. The IOA at that time decided to review its tie-up with Li Ning, which was due to expire after the Tokyo Games. It unveiled an Olympic kit six days ago but said late on Tuesday it had ended the association out of respect for the ‘sentiments of the people of the country’.