Thiruvananthapuram: The 67th edition of the Kerala State School Sports Meet will be inaugurated today at 4 pm by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the University Stadium. The multi-sport event, conducted on an Olympic-style format, will see competitions commence from Wednesday.

Highlighting the talent on display is rising athletics star Mohammed Ashfaq, a Plus Two student at G.V. Raja School. Ashfaq, who recently qualified for the World Junior Athletics Championship, will compete for the Indian team in the South Asian (SAF) Senior Athletics Championships in the 400 metres and 4x400 metres relay before returning for his final school meet. The young sprinter, already a record-holder in the 400m and a gold medalist at 400m hurdles at state-level school meets, aims for participation in the 2028 Olympics.

This year, the meet sees an unprecedented level of participation, including 1944 students under the inclusive sports initiative. Female students from the UAE, following the participation of male students last year, will also compete. The event will feature overall championships for general and sports schools and will include traditional martial arts alongside mainstream sports.

Cricketer Sanju Samson serves as the event’s brand ambassador, while film star Keerthy Suresh is the goodwill ambassador. The inauguration will include cultural programmes, a march past by athletes, and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by footballer I.M. Vijayan and Minister V. Sivankutty. Around 1,000 officials and 2,000 volunteers are expected to be involved. In keeping with sustainability guidelines, the use of plastic at the event will be completely avoided.

Food will be served to over 200,000 participants and visitors under the supervision of Pazhayidom Namboothiri, with accommodation arranged across 70 schools within the city and surrounding areas. While recent heavy rains have posed challenges, organisers remain optimistic.

P.T. Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, sent her best wishes to all participants, urging them to embrace disciplined training, dedication, and perseverance. “Shortcuts may seem tempting, but lasting success comes only through consistent effort, honesty, and commitment,” she said.

The Kerala State School Sports Meet continues to be a cradle of talent, shaping the state’s future sporting stars and fostering national pride.