Isinbayeva agrees rich deal - sources

RALEIGH, North Carolina: Russian Olympic champion and pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva has agreed a multi million-dollar contract with China's largest sportswear retailer Li Ning, several sources have told Reuters.

The agreement, worth $1.5 million annually for five years according to a person with knowledge of the offer, is significant because of the amount of money and the entry of a Chinese company into the athletics marketing world with a high-profile athlete.

"There is no athlete on the track circuit that earns that kind of money," said a person familiar with the negotiations.