The fourth South Asian (SAF) Senior Athletics Championship began with grandeur at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium, Morabadi, on Friday. Chief Minister Hemant Soren formally inaugurated the three-day international event, which will see participation from six South Asian nations India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

The stadium was packed with athletes, school students, and sports enthusiasts who gathered to witness the opening ceremony, which combined athletic pride with Jharkhand’s cultural vibrancy. The championship, scheduled from October 24 to 26, features 36 medal events across men’s and women’s categories. Nine medal events were decided on the first day, with several thrilling finishes marking the start of the competition.

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The ceremony began with

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