Official start for Kerala State School Sports Meet; Torch held by Thakkudu lit by Olympian PR Sreejesh; Mammootty as chief guest

KOCHI: The state school sports meet has begun. The festival got off to an official start with Olympian PR Sreejesh lighting the lamp held by Thakkudu, the lucky symbol of the meet. Actor Mammootty was the chief guest.

The torch relay, which started from the Durbar Hall after 2 pm, reached the main venue by evening. The torch relay with the Chief Minister's Everrolling Trophy and Thakkudu, the lucky symbol of the meet, reached the main venue via MG Road.

High jumper Jewel Thomas received the torch at the stadium. The torch was handed over to women footballers Akhila and Shilji Shaja and special students Yashvitha S and Anu Binu. Minister Sivankutty and PR Sreejesh received the torch from them. After this, PR Sreejesh lit the big torch in the hands of Thakkudu, the lucky symbol of the sports meet, set up on the ground. Sreejesh lit the torch along with Sreelakshmi, a special school student.

The march past took place on the synthetic track of Maharaja's College. Minister V Sivankutty received the expatriate students who came to participate in the sports meet for the first time in history and the children who deserve special consideration, at 9 am. The main kitchen for the sports meet was opened at Maharaja's college ground under the leadership of Pazhayidom Mohanan Namboothiri.