AGARTALA, Jan 24 (TIWN): Sports Minister Sahid Chowdhury on Sunday inaugurated the torch rally and mini marathon from Umakanta Mini-stadium.

After inagauration Sports Minister Sahid Choudhury handed over the torch to Dipa Karmakar, Arjun Awardee and Dipa marched forward with the torch and kicked off the marathon run.

The main objective for the rally is to spread peace, harmony and brotherhood among the north eastern states. Starting from Umakanta Academy the rally walked through IGM Chowmuhani, Paradise, Jackson Gate, MTB School, Laxminarayan Bari Road, Women’s college, Boudhjung chowmuhani and finally the rally will end up at Vivekananda stadium.

Sports board affiliated 34 sports associations, sports organization club, sports lovers and players from sports school participated in the marathon. Around 1000 people participated in the run.

At Umakanta stadium Sports Minister Sahid Choudhury inaugurated both the programmes. In the opening ceremony Jiten Choudhury, Member of Parliament, Parikkhit Murasingh, secretary of sports department, Biswajit Basumatari, team leader of South Asian Games and Prafullyajit Sinha-mayor of AMC remained present in the program.

It is to be mentioned here that with the aim to spread the spirit of the south Asian games in the north eastern states, a torch of the game arrived in the state on Saturday. On Saturday at Agartala airport, Dipa Karmakar, Arjun Awardee International Gymnast received the torch at Agartala airport.

The torch was also received by the Tripura Olympic association secretary Sujit Deb and other dignitaries. Dulal Chandra Das, director of Sports department also remained present along with Golden girl of Tripura Dipa Karmakar and her coach Bisweshar Nandi and others.  A total of 10 member’s team received the torch.