New Delhi: Lord Hanuman has been chosen as the mascot of the 25th Asian Athletics Championships in Thailand for his “speed, strength, courage, and wisdom”.
Organisers of the games, the Asian Athletics Association, said Hanuman shows these “extraordinary abilities in (Lord) Rama’s service”, but his greatest strength was his “loyalty and devotion”.
Hanuman on the logo, the association said, indicates the athletes participating in the games would show the same skills, teamwork, athleticism, dedication and sportsmanship.
While Thailand is a majority Hindu nation, its culture, architecture and heritage is replete with Hindu influences. Its association with India is two centuries old through transoceanic trade and later migration from India in the 19th Century.
The popular Thai epic Ramakien” is based on the Buddhst “Dasaratha Jataka”, which is a Thai variant of the “Ramayana”.
The five-day championship that began Wednesday is being hosted by Thailand and sees the participation of eight other countries – India, Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Singapore.
The Asian Athletics Association, the continent’s governing body of athletes, is celebrating its 50th year in 2023.
The Indian contingent, which is led by shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, has till now managed a bronze by Abhishek Pal in the 10,000-metre walk.
Tejaswin Shankar had a good first day in the decathlon, finishing at the top with 4,124 points. He may just win a maiden gold medal.
Top Indian track-and-field athletes who will also be in action in Bangkok are Jyothi Arraji, who holds a national record in 100 metre hurdles, long jumpers Murali Sreeshankar, Shaili Singh and former Asian Games champions Jinson Johnson (1500m) and Swapna Burman (heptathlon).
The championship is being held after a gap of four years as the 2021 edition in Hangzhou, China was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The 2019 games in Doha saw India finish with 16 medals — two gold, seven silver and seven bronze.
India’s best showing at the Asian Athletics Championships was at Bhubaneswar in 2017. Indian athletes won 27 medals, including nine golds, that year.
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