VIRDHAWAL KHADE SIGNS WITH SPEEDO

March 13, 2008 – SPEEDO, the world’s leading swimwear brand, has today announced the signing of Virdhawal Khade, India’s 16-year-old champion swimmer and, so far, the only Indian swimmer to have qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games, 2008.
Khade will be Speedo’s first global brand ambassador from India and the contract will run through to the Olympic Games later this year. The association between the champion swimmer and Speedo comes following his impressive performances over the last couple of years, which included Olympic qualification at age 15 and his toppling of numerous age-group and senior Indian national records. The talented swimmer is poised to be a major medal contender at the World Youth Swimming Championships in Monterrey, Mexico in July this year and scheduled to participate in the Beijing Olympics.

Khade, currently training in Australia said, "SPEEDO is my favorite brand of swimwear and I am very happy to endorse the brand. Having access to the world's best swimming equipment and gear will give me the edge I need to win at the highest levels. I will also be a part of Team SPEEDO and this will give me the opportunity to work with some of the finest swimmers and coaches in the world. This is a great motivation to train harder and make my country proud."

Celia Muir, Worldwide Head of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship at SPEEDO, said “Virdhawal has already established himself as an outstanding swimmer in India and has a long, bright future ahead of him. He will be a great ambassador for Speedo as he is already for the sport of swimming and we look forward to seeing him build what we believe will be an impressive career throughout the coming years.”

Speaking on the Occasion, Mr R. D. Singh, CEO, Planet Sports said, “Virdhawal Khade is a best choice to represent the SPEEDO Brand in India as both of them complement each other. SPEEDO with its aggressive brand positioning strategy timely engages best brand endorsers to maintain itself as a most preferred swimwear brand around the globe.”
Speedo, has an exclusive marketing tie-up with Planet Sports for its product categories retailing and marketing support in India.

Hakimuddin S. Habibulla, Director at GoSports, who is an Olympic Swimmer and Virdhawal's manager said, "2008 is a crucial year for Virdhawal and Speedo's support could not have come at a better time. He is young and has what it takes to be amongst the best in the world. SPEEDO's association with Virdhawal will go a long way in motivating kids all over India who dream of success in the swimming pool. At GoSports we are excited to have facilitated this relationship between a world-class brand and a world-class athlete."

Click here for the official press release.