Montblanc has appointed Lin Dan as its China brand ambassador. In a statement released earlier this month, Montblanc observed that Lin’s “relentless pursuit for excellence and perfection” mirrors its own values, and cited this as one reason for its partnership with the famed badminton player. Lin, a Chinese national, is widely considered the greatest singles player of the sport, and is the only one so far to have completed the “Super Grand Slam”, which entails winning all nine major titles in world badminton. Lin is also an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a position which he has held since 2013.

Lin was at Montblanc’s “Celebrating the Spirit of Meisterstück” exhibition in Beijing, where he presented attendees with the collection during its ceremony while wearing the Meisterstück Heritage Moonphase. Speaking about his appointment, Lin expressed feeling honoured about joining the family, and remarked on his respect for the brand’s history and craftsmanship. He also noted that Montblanc products are more than just accessories for him, instead declaring them as “companions that [he chooses] to accompany [him] in life and work”.