Torch lit for Kerala school sports meet; competitions to start from today

KOCHI: Torch has been lit for Kerala's teenage sports fest at the Queen of Arabian Sea. The next seven days and nights will be followed by the fiery performances at 17 venues in the first-ever state school sports meet to be held on the lines of the Olympics. Olympian PR Sreejesh, Minister V Sivankutty and inclusive athlete S Sreelakshmi, the brand ambassador of the festival, lit the torch held by Thakkudu, the lucky symbol of the meet, at the maharaja's college ground in Ernakulam yesterday evening.

Education Minister V Sivankutty inaugurated the function. Actor Mammootty inaugurated the cultural meet. The march past, in which 14 districts participated in the excitement of Kochi, turned out to be colourful. The march past, which first featured inclusive athletes, became a message of unity. There will be competitions in 24 disciplines including swimming and cricket today.