Chinese US$330 million sponsorship of IPL under threat after border clash

Chinese sponsorship of India’s biggest sporting event was under threat after a border clash between the two countries sparked calls in India for a boycott of Chinese products and companies.

The Indian Premier League cricket tournament said its chiefs would meet next week to review sponsorship deals.

Chinese mobile phone maker VIVO is the IPL’s top sponsor having paid $330 million for a deal between 2018-2022.

The Indian Olympic Association said it was also ready to reconsider its deal with Chinese kit makers Li Ning.

Growing calls have been made for action against Chinese firms after a clash between Indian and Chinese forces on their Himalayan border on Monday in which 20 Indian troops were killed.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that his country was “hurt and angry” after a border clash with China that left 20 troops dead, and warned that the army has been given chance to respond to any new violence.

India and China have blamed each other for the high altitude clash on their contested Himalaya frontier on Monday which also left Chinese casualties after brutal fights with nail studded batons, rocks and rods covered in barbed wire.

Modi called a rare meeting with opposition party leaders to discuss the simmering crisis hours after China released 10 Indian troops, including two majors, it had seized in the battle in the Galwan valley of Ladakh region.

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