There has been a lot rejoicement on social media at Hanuman being introduced because the official mascot of the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, being held in Thailand subsequent month.

The celebratory feedback remind one in all former Uttar Pradesh sports activities minister Chetan Chauhan saying in 2018 that the Hindu God was a sportsman and a wrestler – solely on being pushed to touch upon the then-burning situation of Hanuman’s caste.

Leaving questions on the intersectionality of mythology {and professional} sports activities apart, Hanuman’s function in Thai tradition, and even Thai sports activities, is a centuries-long phenomenon. This is as a result of the Ramakien, the Thai adaptation of the Ramayana, which is one in all Thailand’s nationwide epics and an vital a part of the nation’s literary canon, provides a extra expanded function to the character.

The Thai Hanuman

Like the Indian model of the Hanuman, the Thai Hanuman is an embodiment of braveness, martial ability and power. But departing from the strict way of life of the Indian Hanuman, the Thai Hanuman is a promiscuous character, and susceptible to mischief.

As such, the character is a favorite at school textbooks and ubiquitous throughout Thailand. Murals at Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaeo, inbuilt 1785, depict him taking part in Sepak Takraw in a hoop with a troop of monkeys. Seasonal festivals have a pantomime character taking part in Hanuman because the central attraction. Hanuman amulets are widespread with Muay Thai fighters as they imagine it provides them power. Soldiers and policemen are additionally recognized to put on Hanuman symbols.

In sports activities, the 2009 Asian Martial Arts Games in Bangkok, Thailand, the primary and solely Asian Martial Arts Games in historical past, organised by the Olympic Council of Asia, had Hanuman because the mascot.

The 1st ASEAN Deaf Games in 2018 additionally had a ‘Hanuman Noi’ as its mascot. The 2017 Youth Weightlifting Championship in Bangkok additionally had Hanuman because the mascot.

Thailand shouldn’t be the one non-Indian nation to have Hanuman because the mascot of a sporting occasion. Even Indonesia, the place too the character enjoys an identical status, had him because the mascot once they hosted the 1997 Southeast Asian Games.

Indian contingent at Asian Athletics Championship

As many as 54 Indian athletes have managed to qualify for the Asian Athletics Championships. 

Men: Rajesh Ramesh and Muhammed Ajmal (400m/4x400m relay/4x400m blended relay), Amoj Jacob (4x400m relay/4x400m blended relay), Nihal Joel William, Mijo Chacko Kurian and Muhammed Anas Yahiya (4x400m relay), Krishan Kumar and Mohammed Afsal (800m), Ajay Kumar Saroj and Jinson Johnson (1500m), Gulveer Singh (5000m/10000m), Abhishek Pal (5000m/10000m), Mohammed Nurhasan and Bal Kishan (3000m steeplechase), Yashas Palaksha and Santhosh Kumar (400m hurdles), Tejaswin Shankar (decathlon), Sarvesh Anil Kushare (excessive soar), Jeswin Aldrin and Murali Sreeshankar (lengthy soar), Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker (triple soar), Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Karanveer Singh (shot put), Rohit Yadav and DP Manu (javelin throw), Akshdeep Singh and Vikash Singh (20km race stroll)

Women: Jyothi Yarraji (200m/100m hurdles), Nithya Ramraj (100m hurdles), Aishwarya Mishra (400m/4x400m relay/4x400m blended relay), Chanda and Lavika Sharma (800m), Lili Das (1500m), Ankita (5000m), Parul Chaudhary (5000m/3000m steeplechase), Sanjivani Jadhav (10000m), Priti (3000m steeplechase), Pooja and Rubina Yadav (excessive soar), Baranica Elangovan (pole vault), Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan (lengthy soar), Abha Khatua and Manpreet Kaur (shot put), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Swapna Barman (heptathlon), Priyanka and Bhawna Jat (20km race stroll), Rezoana Mallick Heena and Jyothika Sri Dandi (4x400m relay/4x400m blended relay), Anjali Devi, Jisna Mathew and Subha Venkatesan (4×400)