A few promising youngsters was all that the 69th edition of the All India Inter-University Athletic Championship offered in this picturesque city of Kochi in Kerala, the nursery of Indian athletics.The five-day event did not produce anything extraordinary, but a lot of youngsters displayed their talent, which, if properly groomed, could win laurels for the country. In some events, athletes came out with sterling individual performances, a good omen for the country.
The meet was held under lights for the first time in Kerala and credit for which should go to the Kerala State Athletic Association and Mahatma Gandhi University for organising the meet in a grand manner.
Nearly 2,500 athletes from 132 universities participated in the meet.
Universities from Kerala asserted their supremacy from day one to the end of the meet. Calicut University deservingly clinched the overall title with 15 medals, including seven golds, five silver and three bronze medals.
Kannur finished runner-up with five golds, two silver and three bronze.
Besides, Calicut and Kannur had lifted the Men's and Women's team titles respectively.
Former Queen of Indian track and field P T Usha said the performance of the athletes was not bad, as seen from the number of records set in at the meet.
"The performances of the youngsters in some events was really good and I do not find any problems with regard to the standard," she said.
Usha, nicknamed 'Payyoli Express' in her heydays, said that Tintu Luka, a product of the Usha School of Athletics, had performed exceedingly well in the 800 m, despite not facing any competition at all.