With barely a week left for the commencement of the 35th National Games, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy handed over the torch of the mega event to volleyball player Tom Joseph and Kerala Sports Council president Padmini Thomas at the government college grounds here on Friday.
‘‘The National Games commences from Kasaragod,’’ Mr. Chandy said at the function, attended by senior political leaders and other dignitaries.
Sports fervour
The entire State was in sports fervour, and that was why the ‘Run Kerala Run’ received tremendous support from society, he said.
‘‘As Kerala is bracing to host the National Games, our students are piling up medals by showcasing their sporting talents at the national school athletic meet in Ranchi,’’ he said, expressing hope that the State would repeat the feat in the games as well.
The torch relay would be led by MLAs T.V. Rajesh and P.C. Vishnunath.
Minister for Sports Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, presiding over the function, said cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Olympian P.T. Usha would light the games flame at the inauguration of the games in Thiruvananthapuram.
Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju and Minister for Youth Affairs P.K. Jayalakshmi addressed the function.
The torch would travel 850 km touching Kannur, Kozhikode, Kottakkal, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Vaikom, Kottayam, Changanassery, Thiruvalla, Chengannur, Mannar, Edathua, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Attingal before reaching Thiruvananthapuram on January 31.
