Rio Olympics star PV Sindhu caught in sponsor's apparel controversy

Bengaluru, Sep 3: Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu finds herself in the midst of a controversy over her apparel at the Games.

Who is Sindhu?" title="Diamond racquet for Sindhu; Who is Sindhu?" />Diamond racquet for Sindhu; Who is Sindhu?

According to a report in "Mumbai Mirror", Sindhu wore Yonex clothing during her silver medal campaign in women's singles badminton event in Brazil. The Indian contingent's official kit sponsor was, the rival brand, Lin Ning. (List of cash awards for Sindhu)

PV Sindhu, in Yonex jersey, celebrates a point at Rio Olympics

For the Rio Games, Li Ning had entered into a sponsorship deal of Rs 3 crore with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), as official kit sponsor. Sindhu and other athletes did not wear Li Ning clothing at the quadrennial sports extravaganza, according to a report.

The 21-year-old Sindhu lost the singles final to world number one Carolina Marin of Spain and had to settle for a silver.

Mahender Kapoor, Li Ning's distributor in India and MD Sunlight Sports Pvt. Ltd, told the newspaper that they have complained to the IOA.

"We were the official kitting sponsors and are also supporting the Paralympic team. We have got very good support from IOA and the players but a couple of players wore the rival brand apparel and we have complained against it," Kapoor told "Mumbai Mirror".

"I won't blame the players. But someone was putting pressure on them," he added.

IOA sources told the newspaper that players including Sindhu were not comfortable in Li Ning clothing and it was related to colour combinations.

"Sindhu and (Kidambi) Srikanth wore the official kit in the earlier rounds. In Sindhu's case, she had chosen red and yellow as her two colours since she felt that they were lucky for her. From the quarter-final onwards, her opponents who were ranked higher and had a choice of colour, picked red and hence she had no option but to wear yellow.

"Since she did not have that colour in the official kit, she had no choice but to wear Yonex," a source said.