Traditional Rajasthani welcome for CYG Baton relay in Jaipur

Jaipur, August 22 (UNI) The Commonwealth Youth Baton Relay, which reached Jaipur today, was accorded a traditional Rajasthani welcome at the Jalmahal and the Baton was received by city Mayor Ashok Parnami.

The relay, which is being held to herald the Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 in Pune this October, reached the Pink city at 1300 hours after halting at the Sariska Tiger Reserve near Alwar last night.

With camels and elephants decorated in traditional Rajasthani attire, the procession was accompanied with noted sportspersons of the state like formal international archer Limba Ram, former middle distance runner and Olympian Gopal Sain, international shooter Shagun Choudhary, former International volleyball player, Secretary of the Rajasthan Volleyball Association Ramavtar Jhakar, former Test cricketer Salim Durrani and others.

The relay also witnessed the gracious presence of President of Rajasthan Olympic Association Janardan Singh Gehlot, Patron of the Rajasthan Swimming Association Mahant Kailash Sharma.

The Baton Relay, which kicked off in Delhi on August 1, had reached Jaipur after covering a distance of about 2000 km across 36 cities and is scheduled to cover almost 8000 km through 199 cities alongwith selected 6000 sportsperson and 7500 volunteers.

The seven-day mega event ends on October 18.

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