Japanese sportswear brand Mizuno has made a splash since its return to Malaysia in 2019, after a four-year hiatus due to a combination of ‘business realignment’, and the impact of Covid-19.
The brand, long associated with golf and athletics – particularly running events – signed a deal with the Malaysia Hockey Confederation last month to sponsor the national women’s and junior women’s teams, as well as the men’s and women’s indoor teams.
Mizuno had also hoped to become the official kit supplier of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. However, BAM recently signed an extension until Dec 31, 2028, with another Japanese brand, Yonex.
“The original BAM deal was set to expire in March 2026. The early extension caught many of us in the industry by surprise,” said Darren Wong, Mizuno Malaysia’s Country Manager.
“On the other hand, we now have four years to show BAM why we can be a valuable partner.
“Although many associate our brand with golf and athletics, globally, we are the No. 4 brand in badminton, behind Yonex, Li Ning, and Victor.”
To show its commitment to badminton, the brand signed independent player Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar. Wong said the company was monitoring those who recently left BAM, as well as the other independent players.
Shaqeem, the runner-up at last year’s National Championship, left BAM in March and is now with Kajang United Badminton Club. In October, BAM released 13 players from its senior team.
Other notable independent national players include Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles), Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles), men’s pairs Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani, and mixed pairs Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
Badminton is close to Wong’s heart as he was a former national junior player and was once BAM’s senior marketing and communications executive.
“I was with BAM a decade ago, and badminton is still my first love,” said Wong.
“We have the full backing of our Japan office to replace Yonex, and I am committed to giving something back to the sport.”
Wong said the brand is making inroads into the vast Malaysian football market and recently launched nine football boots.
“For the ongoing Asean Championship Mitsubishi Electric Cup, we have sponsorship deals with six Harimau Malaya players – Daniel Ting, Dominic Tan, Afiq Fazail, Feroz Baharudin, Shahrul Nizam Ros Hasni, and Azam Azmi Murad,” he said.
“We are also working on securing a sponsorship deal with one of the top football clubs in Malaysia, which we will announce in due course.”
In athletics, national sprinter Muhammad Azeem Fahmi, who competed at this year’s Paris Olympic Games, and Ahmad Luth Hamizan, who has transitioned from national middle distance and steeplechase to marathon, are under its roster.
“We’re strengthening our commitment to Malaysian sports with an enhanced focus in supporting elite athletes and contributing to the nation’s sporting excellence,” said Wong.
“Our deep understanding of athletes’ needs, combined with Mizuno’s global innovation, puts us in a unique position to elevate sports performance across the country.”
Golfer Nicholas Fung and hockey players Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal and Shello Silverius are part of the brand’s stable of national athletes.
“We see immense potential in Malaysian sports,” said Mizuno’s Regional Product Marketing Manager, JayVie Ong.
“We aim to be an active partner in elevating Malaysian sports to new heights. This is just the beginning of what we envision is a long-term commitment to sports excellence in Malaysia.”
Main image: Mizuno Malaysia country manager Darren Wong (centre) flanked by Mizuno regional product marketing manager Jayvie Ong (left) and badminton player Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar.
