Kerala crowned champions under a cloud

Puducherry, Oct 3 (UNI) Kerala bagged the overall championship of the XIX South Zone Junior Athletics Championships 2007 annexing 42 golds even as Tamil Nadu strongly protested as they also won equal number of golds.

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy gave away the prizes even as Tamil Nadu claimed the honours as they also won 42 golds.

However, the organisers crowned Kerala as the champions.

Tamil Nadu Team Manager Parvathy told UNI during a tie, the silver medals could also be taken for selecting the champions in which case her state had won more silvers than Kerala.

Later, they registered a protest with the officials who pacified them and said the entire results would be verified again and they would be informed by post.

The officals were yet to release the silver and bronze medals bagged by the contestants.

UNI