Date:07/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090760620300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Onam with a sporting touch

Staff Reporter

The contests,
scheduled to
begin today, range from marathon to
sack race.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sporting events being organised by the State government in connection with the Onam celebrations will begin on September 7 with a mini marathon for women from Kowdiar to the Martyrs’ Column where Sport Minister M. Vijayakumar will officially inaugurate the event. The inaugural ceremony will be followed by a marathon for men from Palayam to Shanghumughom.

After this, kalarippayattu would be staged at Shanghumughom.

This was stated at a press meet here on Saturday by MLAs V. Sivankutty and R. Selvaraj. This is for the very first time that a sports package was readied for Onam celebrations, Mr. Sivankutty said. In addition to the marathon and kalarippayattu, there will be volleyball, hand ball, wrestling, gymnastics, kabadi, ‘kili-thattu’, ball badminton, football, tug-of-war, sack race and cycle polo events would be organised at various venues.

Venues

The events would be held at venues including Shanghumughom, Amachal, Chakka, Thonnakkal, Karakulam, Vizhinjam harbour ground, University College, Kanakakkunnu, Central stadium and Kanjiramkulam. More than 50 entries have been received for most of the events Mr. Sivankutty added.