Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030655512200.htm

Sport - Athletics

Opening ceremony postponed

KOCHI: The opening ceremony of the first South Asian Athletics championship, which was planned for Thursday, will now be held at the Maharaja’s Stadium here on Friday morning.

The ceremony had to be postponed owing to the late arrival of the teams, said T.P. Dasan, the President of the Kerala State Sports Council, which is organising the championship. Hercules Group is the event’s main sponsor.

Kerala Fisheries Minister S. Sharma will preside over the function at 8.30 a.m. on Friday while Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar will do the opening honours.

The Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and Athletics Federation of India secretary Lalit Bhanot will also attend the function.

The competitions will begin at 9.15 a.m.

More than 200 athletes will figure in the two-day championship. — Principal Correspondent