Team Singapore athletes at the Marina Square Asics store. Standing (L-R): Let Jian Jie, Gary Yeo, Kenneth Khoo, Timothee Yap. Sitting (L-R): Lance Tan, Muhammad Zaki Bin Sapari. (Photo 1 courtesy of Cheryl Ng/IMSG)
Marina Square, Wednesday, November 2, 2011 — Singapore’s contingent of track and field athletes have received an Asics product sponsorship just ahead of the 2011 South-east Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia. All national athletes will wear the brand in competition.
The Singapore Athletics Association (SAA) negotiated the $20,000 product sponsorship with Runner’s World Pte Ltd, the distributor of Asics in South-east Asia. The athletes will receive Asics footwear, apparel and equipment but there is no cash portion to the sponsorship. Asics last sponsored the national track and field team in 1993.
However, Runner’s World have offered a cash prize for Singapore’s athletes if they win a medal at the SEA Games. They have promised $1,000 for a gold medal, $500 for silver and $300 for bronze. This is the first time that Asics has offered a cash reward to national athletes.
Andy Zhao, chief executive officer of Runner’s World, said: “This reward is our way of encouraging our athletes who will be doing their best to bring glory to Singapore. We are pleased to be chosen as the official competition gear sponsor of our national track and field athletes for the SEA Games. SAA’s partnership with us is a big demonstration of faith in Asics shoe and apparel technologies, which will help the athletes to boost their performance during the competition.”
“Asics will continue to support the development of Singapore’s sport talent as we build on the beginning of a fruitful partnership with SAA,” he added.
On top of the team sponsorship, four track and field athletes also received personal sponsorships. Hurdler Timothee Yap, sprinters Lance Tan and Gary Yeo, and pole vaulter Rachel Yang were given three-year deals that will see them receive products tailored for their needs.
SAA President Tang Weng Fei expressed appreciation for the sponsorship.
“We are happy to enter this collaboration with Runner’s World … and we are exploring ways to further develop our partnership. SAA is sending one of our biggest contingents to the upcoming SEA Games, with the aim of giving our young athletes good exposure, and this sponsorship is certainly a welcome boost for us,” said Mr Tang.
“We are encouraged by the support given by Asics and we will continue to work towards our vision of developing Singapore as South East Asia’s top athletics nation.”
SAA are banking on James Wong (discus), Zhang Guirong (shot put), the men’s 4x100m relay team, Wan Lay Chi (shot put, discus) and Rachel Yang (pole vault) to help achieve their six-medal target at the SEA Games.
Kenneth Khoo, 29, is participating in his 3rd SEA Games and running in the 400m and 4X400m event, Said the SEA Games team captain: “This sponsorship and reward offered by Asics is definitely a great motivation for us. We have been training hard and preparing ourselves for the upcoming SEA Games, and we hope to be able to do Singapore proud.”
Pole vaulter Rachel Isabel Yang, 29, also has her sights set on bagging a medal for the country. The 2007 Asian Athletics Championship silver medallist said: “I will be going for the gold in Indonesia, and look forward to achieving a new personal best.”
Singapore’s track and field contingent. (Photo 2 courtesy of Cheryl Ng/IMSG)
Runner’s World CEO Andy Zhao and SAA president Tang Weng Fei (right) show off the competition gear Singapore’s athletes will wear at the upcoming SEA Games. (Photo 3 courtesy of Cheryl Ng/IMSG)
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