Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu has signed a three-year deal that could be worth up to Rs 50 crore with sports management company Baseline, reported The Times of India. The deal will be the biggest ever for any non-cricket sportsperson, if the report is to be believed.
Baseline managing director and co-founder Tuhin Mishra told TOI:
Her (Sindhu’s) soaring popularity has attracted the attention of so many companies. In the next three years, we will work to maximise her value. Even after achieving stupendous success, her humility and the value she brings to women power is remarkable.
Since Sindhu returned from Rio after her historical silver medal win, the endorsement deals poured in. While 16 companies were keen that Sindhu promote their products, Mishra said that they had “finalised nine companies” she would soon be signing deals with.
Following in the footsteps of her dedicated coach Pullela Gopichand, Sindhu too refused to endorse brands that would have an adverse effect on youth.
We have finalised deals with financial institutions, women-centric brands etc. At this stage, I cannot disclose the complete details.Tuhin Mishra, Baseline MD
He added:
Another important aspect is that she will allocate very limited time for commercials. Her practice time will not be affected.
While the company refused to reveal the exact figure Sindhu would be earning, Mishra said the deal, which is the best a “non-cricket star can get” guaranteed her a certain amount of annual payment, while the rest would depend on her endorsements.
Baseline managed badminton players PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth before they left for the 2016 Rio Olympics. While Sindhu became the first Indian woman athlete to grab a silver medal in the women’s singles badminton event at the Olympics, Srikanth was eliminated from the men’s singles in the quarters.
Source: The Times of India
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