YONEX to manufacture high-quality graphite badminton racquets in India, prices to come down considerably

The
Japanese
company
is
going
to
expand
its
existing
production
plan
and
base
in
India
and
the
move
will
bring
the
cost
of
full-body
racquets
down
considerably.

Badminton
surge
in
India

Indian
shuttlers
have
been
doing
exceedingly
well
at
the
global
stage
and
have
been
bringing
numerous
laurels
for
the
country,
including
the
historic
Thomas
Cup
triumph
as
well
as
winning
medals
at
the
World
Championships
and
other
multi-nation
events
such
as
the
Asiad
and
the
Commonwealth
Games.

Badminton
has
also
been
assuring
an
Olympic
medal
to
the
country
since
London
2012
and
it
could
also
be
attributed
to
the
rising
popularity
of
the
sport.

Such
consistent
performances
have
put
badminton
in
the
spotlight
as
it’s
now
the
second
most
played
sport
by
both
genders
in
India.

At
an
even
held
in
New
Delhi,
new
graphite
racquets
were
unveiled
in
the
presence
of
Ben
Yoneyama,
Chairman
of
YONEX
Japan,
R
Hanawa,
President
of
YONEX
India,
Vikramaditya
Dhar,
Managing
Director,
Sunrise
Sports
India
Pvt
Ltd
and
India’s
chief
national
coach
Pullela
Gopichand.

While
addressing
the
media
at
the
press
conference,
Ben
Yoneyama,
Chairman
of
YONEX
Japan,
admitted
that
the
reason
behind
their
move
is
driven
by
the
exponential
growth
of
sport
in
the
country.

“India
is
a
big
market
for
badminton
with
its
growing
economy
and
interest
in
the
sport.
A
lot
of
Indian
players
are
performing
really
well
on
the
world
stage,
encouraging
more
to
take
up
the
sport.
We
want
to
cater
to
that
audience
and
provide
the
highest
Japanese
quality
equipment
to
further
the
sport’s
development,”
Ben
Yoneyama
said.

Surge
in
demand
for
good
quality
racquets
in
India

The
growing
popularity
of
the
game
has
resulted
in
taking
the
demand
for
quality
racquets
sky
high
and
the
market
share
for
badminton
is
seeing
a
10-15%
YoY
growth.
The
production
of
racquets
in
India
will
also
ensure
the
product’s
prices
reduce
by
20-30%
from
the
current
market
rates.

“We
want
to
give
better
quality
racquets
to
our
customers
who
are
looking
for
full
body
graphite
racquets
at
affordable
prices.
These
are
for
players
at
a
higher
level,
playing
at
academies
and
starting
at
a
competitive
level.
With
racquets
being
made
in
India,
the
consumers
need
not
worry
about
import
costs,
or
fluctuating
exchange
rates
as
they
will
get
high-quality
Japanese
craftsmanship
and
technology
at
affordable
prices,”
said
Vikramaditya
Dhar,
Managing
Director,
Sunrise
Sports
India
Pvt
Ltd.

India’s
national
badminton
coach,
Pullela
Gopichand,
also
underlined
the
role
played
by
YONEX
in
the
rise
of
Indian
badminton
on
the
global
stage
and
said
the
new
initiative
was
just
another
step
to
empower
Indian
badminton.

“Yonex
Sunrise
has
made
a
huge
difference
to
Indian
badminton,
whether
it
was
in
2008
when
India
reached
the
quarterfinals
at
the
Olympics
or
the
fantastic
performance
at
the
2010
Commonwealth
Games.
Their
support
was
instrumental
in
India
winning
its
first
Olympics
Medal
at
2012.
YONEX
has
been
an
integral
part
of
India’s
success
story
in
world
badminton,”
he
added.

The
Japanese
company,
which
set
up
a
factory
in
Bengaluru
in
2016
under
the
‘Make
in
India’ initiative,
was
only
producing
aluminium
T-joint
racquets,
used
for
beginners
who
play
for
fitness
or
recreation
purpose.
They
aim
to
amplify
the
production
of
existing
T-joint
racquets
from
1
million
to
2.5-3
million
per
year.

Yonex
and
Sunrise
have
been
committed
to
the
promotion
and
development
of
badminton
for
over
60
years.
SUNRISE
has
the
largest
direct
sports
distribution
network
in
the
Indian
sub-continent.

It
has
been
supporting
multiple
state
and
district
associations
in
the
country
to
promote
and
develop
the
game
at
the
grassroots
to
the
highest
level
of
badminton
in
the
country.
They
are
also
the
official
equipment
partner
for
the
Badminton
Association
of
India.

(With
inputs
from
Media
Release)