Logo

Big time sports event is returning back to Kerala, which has given birth to several International Athletes to the country, when the curtain goes up for the first South Asian Athletic Championship.

The event is scheduled to be held in Kochi at Maharajas Synthetic Track on 7 and 8 March.

Though Kerala had hosted International Cricket, Football, and Basketball tournaments, this will be the first time that the state is playing host to an international athletic event.

About 235 athletes from 8 countries will be seen in action during the event, sources said in Kochi.

Besides the athletes, about 20 international officials and 30 technical officials are also arriving for conducting the championship.

Events in 18 categories in the men's section and 14 in the women's section will be held.

Arrangements for the smooth conduct of the championship, which is considered as a part of the athletes preparation for the Beijing olympics, is in the final stages, according to Kerala Athletic Association sources.

Sri Lanka's wonder athlete and Athens olympic silver medal winner Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Darsha, Indian olympic medal hope Anju Boby George, Sinimol Poulose, Chitra K Soman, K M Binu and M Ranjith will be seen in action at the championship.

Anju, participating in a championship in front of her home crowd after a gap of several years, is coming to Kochi for the meet after cancelling the World Indoor Games scheduled to be held at Spain, the sources said.