Isinbayeva signs lucrative China sponsorship deal

Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva agreed a sponsorship deal with Chinese sportswear firm Li Ning yesterday that state media said sets a new world mark for a track and field athlete. Neither company officials nor Isinbayeva's camp would...

Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva agreed a sponsorship deal with Chinese sportswear firm Li Ning yesterday that state media said sets a new world mark for a track and field athlete.

Neither company officials nor Isinbayeva's camp would disclose the terms of the deal, but the Chinese press put its value at a combined 7.5 million dollars over five years.

Isinbayeva, the world record-holder since July 2004 who has set a total of 26 best marks, said she hoped Li Ning's support and a planned line of tailored gear would help her vault to greater heights.

"I am really looking forward to it," she told a press conference at Li Ning headquarters outside Beijing.

"I'm sure it will help me set a lot of records."

The endorsement highlights the growing clout of Chinese companies in the world of athlete sponsorships, with several top sporting stars recently signing lucrative deals in China.

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