THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 35th National Games kicked off on Saturday evening in an ambience filled with high spirit and enthusiasm. At the colourful ceremony held at the Green Field Stadium in Karriavattom, Central Sports Minister Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the Games.
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, actor Mohanlal, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Indian Olympics Association Secretary Rajeev Mehta among other dignitaries witnessed the event. Following this Kerala’s athletic stars such as Thomas, Shiny Wilson, Dhiju, K M Beenamol handed over Games flame to Sachin Tendulkar, who in turn handed over the flame to P T Usha and Anju Bobby Geroge. They lit the huge lamp arranged at the Games venue to officially declare the 35th National Games open.
Naidu extols Kerala
Venkaiah Naidu thanked the efforts taken by the Kerala government to build the mammoth Green Field Stadium for conducting the games. “ The stadium is the nation’s asset. The Games will make history in Kerala,” he said and congratulated athletes like PT Usha, Shiny Wilson, Anju Bobby George, Tintu Lukka by mentioning their names on by one.
Before the official inauguration there was march past of 36 teams. The first team that entered the stadium was that of former Games champions. The host team which was the last one to arrive was led by Captain Preeja Sreedharan.
Lalisom, a musical-dance stage show organised by Mohanlal that followed was a much anticipated event.
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