Sun Yang triggers sponsorship controversy at Asian Games

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang triggered controversy this week when he attended the medal ceremony for the 200 meter freestyle at the Asian Games wearing a tracksuit from a personal brand sponsor, instead of the uniform provided by the team's official sponsor.

Gold medal winner Sun Yang wears a tracksuit from his personal brand sponsor at the medal ceremony for the men's 200 meter freestyle at the Asian Games in Jakarta on Sunday, August 19, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

Following the incident on Sunday, Team China's sponsor for the Games, Anta, responded to the incident with a statement saying that "we believe the team will take action for this violation of the regulations". The company also said that the national uniform represents the country's prestige, image, and public credibility, and criticized Sun for putting his personal interests above those of the nation.

Sun was seen wearing the national uniform at Monday's medal ceremony for the 800 meter freestyle with the national flag over his shoulders and the Anta logo covered with a flag sticker. Sun has dismissed the criticism he has received over the incident.

Gold medalist Sun Yang wears the national uniform with the national flag draped over his shoulders at the medal ceremony for the 800 meter freestyle at the Asian Games in Jakarta on Monday, August 20, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

The incident was headline news in China this week, and an increasingly hot topic among Internet users. A supportive netizen said, "What he wore is actually not that important; the most important thing is the national flag on his chest." But The Beijing News criticized Sun's negligence of his team's sponsors, saying that "All athletes and officials have to abide by the rules about team uniforms" and "Sun's deeds have hurt the image of the Chinese national swimming team."

Sun has taken three gold medals at the year's Asian Games. As well as the gold he'll take home for the 200 meter freestyle, he took top spot on the podium in both the 400 and 800 meter freestyle.