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Adidas signs up Peas, Bhupathi for products

Adidas has signed up Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, India's most successful sports persons, to endorse its products.

Adidas India Trading Pvt Ltd, said it was in line with the Adidas's philosophy internationally of sponsoring the best athletes/sports persons, according to a press release.

Leander and Mahesh are currently ranked world number two in in tennis doubles. Though the duo began playing as doubles only since early 1997, they have already won nine tournaments in the year, and were the runners-up in the World Doubles Championships held in Hartford, United States. In 1998, the pair won the Qatar Open and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will endorse the complete range of Adidas products including footwear, apparel and accessories. The partnership with Adidas, was reached in November 1997.

Adidas India Managing Director Christoph Holland praised Leander and Paes, and pointed out that in terms of popularity, tennis ranked second only to cricket. "India has produced some great tennis players such as Ramanathan and Ramesh Krishnan, and Leander and Mahesh are poised for greater successes in world tennis," he said.

Speaking for double pair, Leander said they were honoured to have been chosen.

Adidas India also announced plans to step up its visibility within India in the present year. "The year 1996-97 was a setting up period, and now we are ready with our infrastructure," said G Kannan, general manager, marketing.

Adidas also plant to open image stores, branded as mega exclusive stores, in the major cities and executive stores in the smaller cities. A mega store each has already been opened in Bangalore and Madras.

Adidas India Trading Pvt Ltd is a joint venture company of Adidas India Pvt, the Indian subsidiary of Adidas AG and Magnum International Trading Co Ltd.