New Delhi: PUMA hosted one of the fastest sprinters on the planet- Asafa Powell at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The Jamaican sprinter was joined by PT Usha, one of the most renowned women athletes of India, famously known as “Udanpari” as well as the award winning Indian runner “The Flying Sikh” - Milkha Singh. These three running champions were also joined by a host of other India athletes that included Ashwini Nachappa, Rachita Mistri, Amiya Kumar Mallick and Brinston Miranda as well as Sports Scientist Shayamal Vallabhjee. It was definitely a sight to behold for any sports lover!
Famously known for keeping his 10-second barrier in competitions a record 98 times, this was Asafa Powell’s first visit to India. The event started off with Asafa sharing his running journey and how things have changed for him over the years. The Jamaican sprinter and the rest of the Indian sports influencers had a candid discussion highlighting the pivotal role grassroots-level activities play in grooming an athlete from a very nascent stage. Powell along with the other sports legends engaged in an enriching as well as an encouraging conversation about the future of running in India. Powell pointed out the fact that the future generation of runners in India should take inspiration from the likes of PT Usha who have contributed immensely to the sports industry through their coaching.
The highlight of the evening was the race! A host of Under-19 stars and Under 16 stars formed 4 teams along with the Legends and Powell in order to run a 4x100 meter race. The adrenaline was pumping even as the stars regaled their fans all over again!
“I am proud to be a part of the PUMA family because of their longstanding commitment to athletics. Today’s race was an exciting and engaging experience with the past, current and future runners of India. The passion of all the participants was phenomenal. It is great to see the spirit of the sport in India and how PUMA is providing a platform to nurture this spirit further”, said Asafa Powell when asked about his experience today.
Abhishek Ganguly, MD, PUMA India said, “Our motivation behind bringing Asafa Powell to India is two folds – to give the fans an experience of a lifetime and to promote running as a sport in India. We want India to be a country that runs, a country that is more inclined towards fitness. Our endeavors is to inspire everyone to adopt an active lifestyle and an icon like Asafa can only ignite that thought. It has been an absolute privilege having a champion like him among us."
PUMA believes in persistently interacting with their fans and giving them an extraordinary experience.
Powell’s visit to India will definitely boost the spirits of Indian athletes and also encourage many aspirant runners to take up the sport.
