Udupi: The Karnataka State Junior and Under-23 Athletics Championships will be hosted at the Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium, Ajjarkad, from August 23 to 25, announced former MLA K. Raghupathi Bhatt, who also serves as the President of the Organizing Committee.
Addressing a press conference, Bhatt said the meet is being jointly organized by the Udupi District Amateur Athletic Association and the Karnataka State Association. The event will serve as a platform to select the Karnataka team for the upcoming All India South Zone Games in Puducherry and the National Junior Games in Bhubaneswar.
Over the three-day event, nearly 150 competitions will take place across 10 categories, adhering to the rules of the Athletic Federation of India (AFI). A photo finish system will be implemented to ensure fair results.
The inauguration ceremony will be held on August 23 at 10 am, with Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar, also the President of the Karnataka State Amateur Athletic Association, declaring the meet open. Manipal University Vice Chancellor Dr. H.S. Ballal will preside over the function. District In-charge Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar will accept the salute during the march-past, while MLA Yashpal A. will hoist the golden flag.
At the press meet, State Vice President Mahesh Thakur, District Athletics President Hariprasad Rai, Chandrashekhar Hegde, and Dinesh Kumar A. were also present.