THE inaugural Pan Asia-Pacific Hash 2027 that is scheduled to be held in Nadi has received a major boost with Fiji’s largest private hospital, Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) announcing their major sponsorship for the event.
Planned to be held in September over a three-day event, the organisers are confident of participation from close to 2000 hashers from across the globe.
The grand event is being collectively organised by three different chapters of the Hash House Harriers based in the jet-set town of Nadi.
“All the three chapters, Nadi, Malolo and Hospital Hash House Harriers have joined forces to bring this big sports tourism event to Nadi come 2027,” event director and Nadi Hash House Harriers Grandmaster Emeritus Dr Ram Raju said.
“The event has been further boosted by Suva Hash House Harriers – the oldest hash chapter in Fiji that started all the way back in 1974.
“They have come out in full support towards making the inaugural and historic event a major success.
“Also, we are not newcomers in hosting events of such magnitude. We have done it in 2018 by hosting the Interhash which saw the participation of over 2000 hash runners from across the world and we are all set to host yet another international event,” Dr Raju said.
“We are extremely grateful to PSH founder and chief executive officer Parvish Kumar who has come forward and supported the Pan Asia-Pacific Hash 2027 since the Ministry of Tourism had turned down our request initially.
“We were on the verge of giving up on this event but PSH came to the rescue as organising something of this magnitude requires a lot of funding and support from all stakeholders concerned.
“There are more than 2000 chapters of Hash House Harriers all over the world so this invitation will be reaching out to every chapter that is active and we are quite confident of getting one of the best turnouts come 2027.
“I am sure the word is already out there through a lot of chapters in Australia and New Zealand and now we want it to be extended to all the South East Asian countries and basically all over the world including Europe, North America, and even some chapters in South America.
“Hash is very strong in Europe, particularly England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, as well as most of the European countries so they will all be aware of this event and can travel without any medical concerns knowing the world-class capabilities Fiji now has with the establishment of the state-of-the-art hospital PSH who are now our major sponsors.
“This event will also promote Fiji in terms of sports tourism and medical tourism as well given the status and capabilities of our sponsors – PSH which is now aligning itself with the Fiji Government’s vision to promote the country as a hub for health tourism while caring for the local population at the same time,” Dr Raju said.
PSH founder and chief executive officer Parvish Kumar said he is very excited to support this grand event and looks forward to a great turnout in Nadi.
“Dr Ram Raju is a huge fan of PSH and everyone knows that he is the face of hash in Nadi and Fiji so PSH is more than happy to support him and his activities and we are also promoting active lifestyle and healthy living and that’s why we are supporting this event,” Mr Kumar said.
“To all participants, I would like to say, welcome to Fiji, we hope that you have a good time here and PSH is all the way with you in supporting you and we hope that you’ll have fond memories of Fiji and Dr Ram Raju and his hospitality in Fiji.”
Source: SHALENDRA PRASAD | photojournalist.fiji@gmail.com
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