MAM
India’s ace badminton player, Kidambi Srikanth signs a 35-crore 4-year deal with global Chinese brand, Li-Ning
MUMBAI: India’s ace shuttler, Former World no. 1 Men's badminton player, Kidambi Srikanth signed a 35-crore deal with Asia's premium sports brand, Li-Ning. The deal which is valued at Rs. 35 crores for a period of 4 years, will comprise of sponsorship & equipment supply. India’s only male World No.1 badminton player, Srikanth is also the only Indian badminton player to have won 6 Super Series badminton event which no other Indian badminton player has achieved till now.
Li Ning Company Limited is one of the leading sports brand companies in China, mainly providing sporting goods including footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for professional and leisure purposes primarily under the LI-NING brand.
Sunlight Sports Pte Ltd is a multi-national exclusive partner of Li-Ning in India, South East Asia, Australia/New Zealand & also manages world renowned brands; McDavid, Shock Doctor, Kason and DHS.
Mr. Mahender Kapoor, Director, Sunlight Sports Pte Ltd said “Srikanth is among the top Badminton players in the world & already the most accomplished Indian Male Badminton player & a World No1 player. Li Ning stands for quality & consistency and Srikanth fits the bill perfectly. We want to play our part in helping Srikanth achieve a lot more going forward.”
Kidambi Srikanth ecstatically commented, “I am honored to be the face of Li Ning in India & globally. I love their products & I’m really looking forward to stepping on the court with a renewed vigor to accomplish few more goals that I have set for myself & keep bring laurels for my country.”
Srikanth is exclusively managed by India’s leading sports marketing firm Baseline Ventures which was instrumental in getting the tie up in place.
Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director, Baseline Ventures said “We were really impressed with the road map & vision of the brand Li Ning for Srikanth & the team handling Li Ning is completely hands-on & dynamic which is so important for a top athlete like Srikanth. We look forward to a great association over the next 4 years”
Li-Ning has been supporting the team China, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia for badminton and was the official sponsor of the Indian contingent at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Li-Ning is also currently Team India's official apparel partner till the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo where Srikanth will be one of the foremost Olympic medal contender hopes for India.
Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
