Yonex On Board As Badminton League Launches

Badminton England has agreed a partnership with sports brand Yonex to become the Official Sports Equipment Supplier to the National Badminton League.

The NBL will become the UK’s first ever badminton league when it launches today (Monday 6th October) live on Sky Sports – featuring updated rules to create quicker gameplay – in the same way cricket formed Twenty20.

The league will feature some of the best players from home and abroad, including Commonwealth Games gold medal-winners Chris and Gabby Adcock (pictured above at Glasgow 2014).

The NBL consists of six franchised teams from Birmingham, Derby, Loughborough, Milton Keynes, Nottingham and Surrey, who will play against each other once, in a mixture of home and away matches – with players allocated after an Indian Premier League-style auction.

One match from each matchnight will be shown live on Sky Sports, with the other matches streamed live and available on delay online.

Adrian Christy, chief executive of Badminton England, said of the Yonex partnership: ‘We have an ambitious commercial programme to support the NBL and I am delighted to announce Yonex as the first commercial partner.’

‘Badminton England has worked with Yonex for more than 30 years and their continued support of the sport in this country is fantastic. As we look forward to the start of the first ever professional badminton league in the UK, we are proud to do so with such a valued partner.’

Paul Jepson, managing director at Yonex UK Ltd, added: ‘Yonex is very proud to have been selected as the Official Sports Equipment Partner to the National Badminton League to provide Aerosensa Shuttles, nets, posts and court mats.’

‘As the world’s number one badminton brand Yonex has always provided world class innovative products and experiences. Similarly the NBL’s goal is to deliver world class badminton presented in an innovative way.’

‘We believe that together we can ensure badminton fans everywhere will be surprised and delighted with what the NBL will offer whether it’s live, on TV or online.’