Chinese $330 million sponsorship of IPL under threat

NEW DELHI: Chinese sponsorship of India’s biggest sporting event was under threat Friday after a border clash between the two countries sparked calls in India for a boycott of Chinese products and companies.

The Indian Premier League cricket tournament said its chiefs would meet next week to review sponsorship deals.

Chinese mobile phone maker VIVO is the IPL’s top sponsor having paid $330 million for a deal between 2018-2022.

Growing calls have been made for action against Chinese firms after a clash between Indian and Chinese forces on their Himalayan border on Monday.

“Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave (soldiers), the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deal,” said a statement on the IPL’s official Twitter account.

The league has not gone ahead this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but cricket chiefs still hope it can be played.

“Ban all Chinese products,” Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh wrote on Twitter reflecting the growing anti-China sentiment in the country.

The Indian Olympic Association said it was also ready to reconsider its deal with Chinese kit makers Li Ning.

“Our tie up with them is until the Tokyo Olympics. We will take a decision in the executive board meeting whenever that takes place after the lockdown,” IOA secretary-general Rajeev Mehta told AFP.