Lord Hanuman chosen as official mascot for Asian Athletics Championships in Thailand

New Delhi: The Asian Athletics Championships, marking the 50th anniversary of the continental governing body, has announced Lord Hanuman as its official mascot. 

“As Hanuman exhibits extraordinary abilities in (Lord) Rama’s service, including speed, strength, courage, and wisdom … Hanuman’s greatest ability is, in fact, his incredibly staunch loyalty and devotion,” the Asian Athletics Association explained on its website behind their decision to select Lord Hanuman, a prominent figure in Hindu mythology. They went on to explain that the logo for the 25th Asian Athletics Championships 2023 represents the participating athletes, their skills, teamwork, athleticism, dedication, and sportsmanship. 

Lord #Hanuman has been chosen as the official mascot of the Asian Athletics Championships, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from July 12 to 16.

The association said – “As Hanuman exhibits extraordinary abilities in Rama’s service throughout the adventure, including… pic.twitter.com/JXdBbZuyls

— Dr Gaurav Garg (@DrGauravGarg4) July 12, 2023

The influence of Hinduism in Southeast Asian cultures, including Thailand, has resulted in the spread of the Indian epic Ramayana, written by Valmiki. The Thai adaptation of this legend, known as Ramakien, has become an integral part of their cultural heritage.

The event aims to showcase the talents of athletes from various countries. Thailand, the host country, holds a remarkable record as one of the nine teams that have participated in all 23 previous editions of the championships. Unfortunately, the 24th Championships, scheduled for 2021, had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The other eight teams that have consistently participated over the years are Hong Kong, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and Singapore.

The Indian team, comprising talented athletes shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor and long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, including representatives from Delhi and Bengaluru, departed on Saturday night to compete in the five-day Asian Athletics Championships. The athletes are eager to showcase their skills and make their country proud internationally.