#TGLife
People are becoming increasing health and fitness conscious. Gyms are now counted as status symbol. Playing a game or two has been added to routine schedules. Being a part of some sport or the other is mandatory for a healthy lifestyle. It is in the wake of this fitness frenzy world that walking, running, jogging and many other sports are becoming popular. Goa is a world of sports in itself. The recently held India’s first Ironman 70.3 in Goa witnessed a huge participation.
Associated with Mumbai marathon for a decade, since 2009, Rajat Khurana, managing director, ASICS India asserts, “With more marathon events happening in every city, our portfolio is growing in India.”
This Japanese sports performance brand opened its first flagship store in Goa recently and Khurana was in Goa for the launch.
A fitness freak himself, 45-year-old Khurana shares, “I have done 52 half marathons the past 52 weeks, meaning one every week, apart from his daily routine running of 11 km.”
For him fitness is important. He feels that the right gear helps in protecting a person while practicing. It prevents injuries and improves the performance and confidence.
“I first ran in 2011, in Bengaluru marathon when I was 37 and it was a hard run for me. Now, at 45, I easily run 21 km every week in Mumbai in 1.46 minutes,” claims Khurana who was the first employee of ASICS in India when it was launched in 2012.
Highlighting the speciality of ASICS, he says, every brand stresses to offer the gears for the kind of runner you are. Analysing how one runs, the footwear is designed to suit that kind of running so that with less efforts one can run faster and without getting hurt. There are cushions to protect the feet.
The company’s philosophy is, ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’ meaning ‘A sound mind in a sound body’ which is a Latin phrase from which the word ASICS is derived.
“That is the fundamental platform on which the brand still stands,” says Khurana.
Asked how ASICS India differentiates itself from the competition, Khurana asserts, “While we continue to innovate further and help our consumers or athletes to go a step further, our technologies help the consumer understand our product before investing in it. Our ‘ASICS Foot ID’ system is a revolutionary step in apprising the consumer in the measures of their foot shape and focal point of the ASICS India, offering static and dynamic measurements that include foot shape analysis and gait cycle analysis. This ID static measures the foot shape, and its dynamic analyzes the wearer’s running gait. It helps runners find the most suitable shoes to draw out every ounce of their performance.”
With 41 stores across India, and some regional partners this 1949 born company is endorsing a concept of mind and body stimulation.
Retail is growing at a rapid rate, in the sports and fitness sector in Goa. This is the right time for us to enter the market to reach out to wider audience, feels the managing director.
