Manika Batra, India's best table tennis player, has joined Adidas' sportswear team. With this agreement, the firm hopes to increase sports credibility and diversity, according to the corporation.
The alliance focuses on supporting women to achieve their goals, encouraging women to break down barriers, and making a lasting effect in sports.
Sunil Gupta, India's senior director for the Adidas brand, stated,"We are thrilled to have Manika Batra as the newest member of the adidas family. She is an inspiration to many young women who aspire to push limits and achieve seemingly unachievable goals. We will continue to drive the attitude, “Impossible Is Nothing" through our athletes while celebrating women in the world of sports."
The paddler is the first Indian woman to win gold in table tennis at the Commonwealth Games, the first Indian player to join the top 10 in women's doubles and top 15 in mixed doubles in the ITTF World rankings, and the first Indian woman to enter the top 50 in the ITTF Rankings. With her 'Impossible Is Nothing' mindset, Manika joins Adidas' illustrious stable of female athletes, which includes Mirabai Chanu, Hima Das, Lovlina Borgohain, and Nikhat Zareen.
Batra stated, "This is an opportunity every sports person looks forward to. I am very excited and grateful for this to have come my way especially at a time when the brand is celebrating women through their ‘Impossible Is Nothing’ campaign. I hope with my sport and my association with the company, I can empower and encourage women to see possibilities irrespective of the challenges so that the nation can witness many more 'golden girls'."
In FY2020, the Indian sports apparel market was valued at $498.68 million, with a 16.06 percent growth forecast. Nike, Puma, New Balance, Under Armour, Asics, Fila, and other sportswear companies compete with the company.
