Thiruvananthapuram: In the recently concluded Kerala State School Sports Meet held in Thiruvananthapuram, two outstanding athletes, Adithya Aji and T.M. Athul, were honoured with the prestigious 'Mathrubhumi' gold medals for their stellar performances. Adithya Aji from Navamukunda HSS, Thirunavaya, Malappuram, emerged as the star in the senior girls category by clinching gold in the 100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, and 4x100m relay events. Her remarkable achievements, including a triple gold haul, earned her the title of the best athlete in her category. Known as the "queen of speed," Adithya is poised to transition into professional athletics next season.

In the junior boys category, T.M. Athul from Govt DVHSS, Charamangalam, Alappuzha, made headlines by breaking a 37-year-old meet record in the 100m sprint with a time of 10.81 seconds in the finals, after clocking an even faster 10.79 seconds in the heats. His record-breaking run and gold medal in both the 100m and 200m races crowned him the best athlete in the junior boys category. Athul's journey is notable for overcoming financial hurdles and injuries, with his dedication and training under coach P.S. Samjee playing a crucial role.

The award winners were selected by a distinguished jury comprising Olympian K.M. Beenamol, former Indian footballer V.P. Shaji, and sports teacher and World Athletics Technical Official Dr Roy John V. The gold medals were presented by the Kerala Minister for Education, V. Sivankutty, recognising the exceptional talent and sportsmanship displayed by these young athletes.

Both Adithya and Athul have set inspiring examples with their dedication, resilience, and outstanding performances, underscoring the rich sporting talent emerging from Kerala's school sports ecosystem.