Major athletic meets in Kerala to be five-day events

Malappuram: The duration of the all major athletic meets held under the aegis of the Kerala State Athletics Association will be extended to five days from now on.

The decision was taken on the basis of the findings of the three-member expert team appointed by the state government to probe the death of Plus One student Abheel Johnson in a freak accident during the State Junior Athletic Meet earlier this month at Pala.

As per the new rule, district and state-level events, where athletes in different age-groups participate, will be five-day affairs.

The investigation by the expert panel had found fault with the simultaneous conduct of the throwing events at the meet and held the organisers responsible for Abheel’s death. Based on the recommendations in the inquiry report, the State Sports Council has also instructed the athletics association to overhaul the existing system so that such incidents could be prevented.

The new set of rules will be implemented when the state junior athletic meet, which was postponed following the freak incident, recommences, the office-bearers of the athletics association said.