Sport - Sports : General

National women’s sports meet from today

Madurai: The 33rd National Sports Festival for Women (Group II) competitions will be held here from Tuesday. Competitions will be held in athletics, volleyball, handball and kabaddi.

Apart from athletics, 23 teams are in the fray in volleyball, handball and kabaddi. The format for all games will be the same.

The teams have been placed in four groups for the league phase and two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout quarterfinals.

The defending champion is West Bengal in athletics and volleyball, Andhra Pradesh in handball and Delhi in kabaddi.

Mr. Jawahar, District Collector, briefing the press said, “this is a big venture and we will conduct it successfully. Seventeen States including Tamil Nadu are here today and six more are expected tomorrow.

“We have formed twelve committees headed by influential persons and made elaborate arrangements for the healthy stay of nearly 1200 participants”

Mr. Athulya Mishra, member secretary, SDAT, said the host was fielding strong teams in all events.

Mr. P.M. Mannan, Deputy Mayor, Madurai Corporation said, “Corporation is extending its support to the organisers for the successful conduct.

Mr. T.P.M. Moldeen Khan, Sports minister will inaugurate the meet.

Mr. Thenmozhi Gopinathan, Mayor, Madurai Corporation will preside.

Antony and Manirathnam of Rajapalayam lifted the Athi P. Thangamani Nadar memorial Trophy defeating Senthil Kannan and Maheswaran of Tirunelveli 22-20, 21-12 in the final of the Southern districts badminton doubles tournament at Virudhunagar on Sunday.

Earlier in the semifinals, Antony & Manirathnam beat Rajkumar & Satheesh (Aruppukottai) 21-16, 21-16; Senthil Kannan & Maheswaran beat Nelson & Shah Nawaz (YMCA, Tuticorin) 21-18, 21-23, 21-11.

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