Date:20/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/20/stories/2006102005022000.htm

Sport - Athletics

Top stars for State athletics

Principal Correspondent

THRISSUR: Home of Asian queens. Nursery of Indian athletics.

Kerala is all this and more. But when the Kerala State Athletics Association decided to conduct its golden jubilee State championship this month, it could not find a stage fit for the occasion.

"We had planned to hold our 50th State championship at the Maharaja's College Ground (in Kochi) but since the work on the new synthetic track could not be completed in time, we have decided to have our golden jubilee celebrations next year," said Tony Daniel, the leading Kerala athletic official. The work on the synthetic track has now crossed many deadlines.

The 50th State senior and junior championship will now begin at the Corporation Stadium here on Friday with little fanfare. But it will not be short of stars.

Joseph Abraham, national champion in the 400m flat and hurdles, triplejumpers Bibu Mathew, M. Renjith, high-jumper Roshan and budding star Tintu Luka are some of the stars expected at the three-day meet.

Competitions for men and women and for boys and girls in the under-20, under-18 and under-15 age groups will be held and over 1,500 athletes will be seen in action. K.P. Rajendran, the Revenue Minister, will inaugurate the championship.

Philip cracks hundred

A fighting century by Philip K. Joseph (119) enabled Pathanamthitta post a respectable score of 230 for nine against host Thiruvananthapuram on the opening day of the two-day South Zone under-17 inter-district cricket tournament at the Agriculture College ground, Vellayani (Thiruvananthapuram) on Thursday.

Batting first, the Pathanamthitta batsmen barring Philip and Sadam Khan (42) struggled.

The scores: Pathanamthitta 230 for nine in 55.3 overs (Philip K. Joseph 119, Sadam Khan 42, R. Renjith three for six, Likhin Francis three for 41) vs. Thiruvananthapuram.

At Kollam: Kollam 162 in 65.3 overs (Anoop 40, Ronson Puthenpura five for 54) vs. Kottayam 27 for no loss in seven overs. — Principal Correspondent