by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Mysore, May 20: The relay of the sports torch for the Asian Grand-Prix began from the city on Friday May 19 morning.

As the District in-charge Minister D.T. Jayakumar did not turn up, Deputy Commissioner S. Selvakumar flagged off the relay at the Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Mysore Palace premises at 9 am.

International athlete Somashekhar, a Mysorean, began the run carrying the torch leading a contingent of about 125 athletes of national and international fame. Athletes Nagendraprasad, Seetharam, Sreedevi, Kavitha, Prithviraj, Yogendra and others accompanied the torch upto tollgate through Bangalore-Nilgiri Road and Five Lights Circle.

University Director of Physical Education C. Krishna, All India Athletics Association Joint Secretary H.D. Mahadev and other dignitaries were present when the event was flagged off.

Somashekhar handed over the torch to international athlete Prabhu at the tollgate on its onward journey towards Bangalore at 9.30 am. Famous athletes Pavade, Yarangundavar and about 25 sportspersons accompanied Prabhu in the run.

After a brief stopover at Mandya, the relay team resumes its run at Mandya at 4 pm. The team will have its night stay at Maddur today and Ramnagar tomorrow.

The torch will be received at Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore on Monday morning heralding the beginning of Asian Athletic Grand-Prix.