Saina Nehwal and Prakash Padukone launch premier Yonex-Sunrise Store in Bangalore

Japanese sports equipment brand Yonex today launched their premier standalone store in Karnataka at the Karnataka Badminton Association in Bangalore, an example of their commitment to the ever growing popularity of the sport in the country. At the helm of this launch is Singapore-based Sunrise & Co., distributor of Yonex products in several ASEAN markets as well as in India and Sri Lanka.

Inaugurating the store, Olympic Medalist Saina Nehwal, who shares a historic association with Yonex, having being supported by the brand since 2002 and as product ambassador of the Yonex Nanoray 700RP said, “As I strive and prove through excellence to be a strong brand ambassador of the sport, Yonex has already established that association, being synonymous with the sport since its inception.”

First-of-its-kind in Karnataka, the new exclusive Yonex shop at Lanai will offer the latest and best quality range of Yonex products, such as shoes, bags, apparels and accessories. Yonex’s exclusive international range and team apparels will also be available in this store, including walking shoes, which would be available for the first time in the country.

Also present at the event was Indian legend and former All England Champion Prakash Padukone, whose academy is housed at the Karnataka Badminton Association. “We at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy continuously strive towards nurturing talent into World Class Champions and while strong mentorship and best in class infrastructure is essential for the development of these champions, so is the undisputed need for world-class equipment that provides the necessary and required edge that separates the players from the champions. As I grew through the life cycle of player to champion to coach and mentor, I am glad to say that so has the brand – Yonex.”

“With the launch of the new exclusive Yonex Shop at Lanai in Bangalore, Yonex-Sunrise sustains its strong commitment to the sport in the country. As the country strives towards producing medal-winning champions and as society continues to embrace the sport as a leisure activity, we are glad to say that Yonex-Sunrise understands the pulse of the nation and is always working towards catering to the need of every badminton player in the country”, said Vikram Dhar, Country Manager, Yonex-Sunrise, India, highlighting the significance of the launch of the store that is the first-of-its-kind in the state, and fourth in India, with other stores in Hyderabad, Lucknow and Chandigarh. The store shall also house a Yonex ES8PROTECH Stringing Machine personally autographed by Lee Chong Wei and Saina Nehwal. Used exclusively by the Yonex international stringing team and trusted by the tournament pros, the Yonex ES8PROTECH Stringing Machine delivers world-class reliability and accurate stringing operations keeping players and the tournament schedule progressing smoothly, making it also the chosen stringing machine for the Olympics.

Also in the event, Yonex introduced the NANORAY Z-SPEED racquet, which has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the fastest smash speed of 493kmph by Malaysian shuttler Tan Boon Heong on July 28, 2013. The Yonex NANORAY Z-SPEED racquet is all set to make its debut globally on September 13, 2013 and will be available in India for INR 21,000.

With badminton being the second most played sport in India and the fourth most followed sport in the country, the new exclusive Yonex shop at Lanai shall retail sports gear, apparels and accessories at competitive prices, promises to cater to the nurtured and dormant badminton player and encourage the development of the sport by making quality badminton gear available to the badminton enthusiasts in Bangalore.