Kerala school sports meet brings 9,309 young athletes to Kozhikode
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Kerala’s next generation of athletes will compete for new records at the 68th State School Sports Meet, which opens in Kozhikode on Sunday despite concerns over heavy rain.
A total of 9,309 children will participate across 10 venues over seven days, with the new track at the National Institute of Technology in Chathamangalam serving as the main venue.
For the young competitors, the meet offers an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Kerala’s leading athletes, from P.T. Usha and Shiny Wilson to Anju Bobby George and Ancy Sojan.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will inaugurate the event at the NIT ground at 4pm on Sunday. This is the third edition organised in an Olympics-style format, bringing different sports together under one meet.
About 30 sporting competitions, including swimming, cricket and football, were held earlier to accommodate the schedule of national championships.
The meet carries the anti-drug message “Say No to Drugs” and includes inclusive athletics for children with special needs. Twenty-eight pupils from schools in the Gulf will also compete.
About 1,000 volunteers and 2,000 officials will support the event.
Heavy rain raises concerns
Persistent rain over the past two days has raised concerns about the conduct of competitions. Kozhikode recorded 122 millimetres of rainfall across Friday and Saturday, while the weather department has issued a red alert for the district for the next two days.
However, there are no changes to the competition schedule or venues.
Temporary spectator stands have been installed at the NIT ground. A catering team led by Pazhayidom Namboothiri will prepare non-vegetarian meals for 25,000 children each day.
P.T. Usha to light the flame
Indian Olympic Association president P.T. Usha will light the ceremonial flame. Minister N. Shamsudheen will preside over the opening ceremony, which will also be attended by opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan.
About 4,000 athletes will take part in the march-past, while approximately 3,000 students will perform in cultural programs.
A procession carrying the Chief Minister’s Trophy, made of 117.5 sovereigns of gold and awarded to the meet’s champions, will reach Kozhikode at 9am on Sunday.
The closing ceremony will take place at 4pm on October 31 and will be inaugurated by Minister Ramesh Chennithala. Anju Bobby George, senior vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India, will attend as chief guest.