Udupi, 08 September 2010: A large number of people offered a rousing welcome to the Queen’s Baton Relay here on Monday. An elephant garlanded the baton at the welcome arch at Kinnimulki here on its arrival around 10 a.m. from Mangalore, even as the beats of the traditional ‘chande’ rent the air.
Hundreds of students and NCC cadets cheered when the baton was handed over to Babu Shetty, a sportsperson from the district. Sportspersons such as Udaykumar Shetty, Apsara Rohit Kumar Kateel, Padmanabha Bandi, Arunakala, Sandra D’Souza, Pallavi Cherkady and Anita Tantri were present.
A team of sportspersons, led by Mr. Babu Shetty, took the baton from Kinnimulki. Cultural programmes, including Yakshagana, Veera Gase and Huli Vesha were organised near the taluk office and the Board High School.
The Queens Baton got a rousing reception from the people on its arrival in Udupi on Monday.
The baton was taken through Taluk Office Road, Court Road, Diana Circle, Kavi Muddanna Road, and Bannanje Road before rejoining National Highway 17. The baton was here for about 45 minutes.
MLA Raghupati Bhat, president of zilla panchayat Gladys Almeida, Deputy Commissioner P. Hemalatha and Superintendent of Police Pravin Pawar were present at Kinnimulki to welcome the baton.