Jharkhand is ready to host the 4th South Asian Athletics (SAAF) Senior Championship 2025 from October 24 to 26 at the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium in Ranchi. Athletes from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka will come together for three days of competition and cultural celebration.
At a ceremony in Ranchi, the championship’s logo, mascot and official anthem were unveiled. The logo reflects Jharkhand’s natural beauty, tribal art and sporting culture. Designed on the theme “The Land of Sports, Tribes, Culture and Nature,” it blends green shades with tribal motifs that express the state’s identity and ecological richness.
Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudivya Kumar described it as a proud moment for Jharkhand. He said the state, under Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is ready to welcome South Asia’s top athletes and to showcase its heritage, discipline and energy.
The mascot “Dalma” is inspired by the state animal, the elephant, and the Dalma Hills. Decorated with Sohrai and Khovar tribal patterns and dressed in white athletic gear, Dalma represents unity, strength and sporting grace. Organisers said it captures the spirit of Jharkhand’s people, rooted and proud.
The official anthem, in the Nagpuri language, celebrates local folk traditions with instruments such as mandar, nagada and bansuri. Combined with modern music, it conveys determination and unity and celebrates the belief that new champions will rise from Jharkhand’s soil.
More than 300 athletes and 150 officials from six countries will participate. India will field an 81-member team competing in 37 gold medal events. The SAAF Championship returns to India after 17 years. In the 2008 Kochi edition, India won 57 medals, including 24 gold. This year, the team aims to continue that legacy on home ground.
Hosting SAAF 2025 is a step in Jharkhand’s effort to become a sports hub. The event is expected to boost tourism and local business while highlighting the state’s tribal culture, art and hospitality. For Jharkhand, it is both a sporting event and a celebration of identity and unity.