SHILLONG: The mascot for the upcoming 12th South Asian Games, Tikhor was introduced to the people of Shillong during the Lantern Festival held at Polo on Saturday evening.
Chief Executive Officer of the South Asian Games Organising Committee, Shillong, Mr. R K Sharma was also felicitated on the occasion. The mascot was an instant hit with the hundreds of Shillongites who turned up for the Lantern Festival.
The Games organizers said the idea of Tikhor is of someone who is sharp, naughty, sporty and modern. He is all-rounder, active, energetic and popular among kids. He carries the message/aspiration of peace, stability, amity and progress in the South Asian region.
The Lantern Festival, besides others, aimed at generating awareness about the upcoming international games event in the city which is expected to see participation from top athletes from eight countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts India.
The SAG will be held in Guwahati and Shillong from February 6-16.
Shillong is scheduled to host the disciplines of archery, badminton, boxing, table tennis, taekwondo, wushu, judo and women’s football.
The event is expected to bring the top names of the above disciplines to the city and hence promises to be an exciting affair.
Some of the people present in the venue of the Lantern Festival said that they were excited about the prospects of big names in badminton and boxing travelling to the city for the South Asian Games. Others felt that the Games were a big opportunity for Meghalaya to seal its presence in the sports map of the country.
