State School Meet: CPM to Build Home for Record-Breaker Devapriya; Atul Sets Track Ablaze with 37-Year Feat

Thiruvananthapuram: Yesterday, the State School Athletics Meet saw two remarkable performances as Kerala’s young sprinters broke long-standing records. Devapriya Shaibu of Calvary HSS, Idukki, and Atul T.M. of Charamangalam Government DVHSS, Alappuzha, emerged as the meet’s standout athletes, rewriting decades-old records.
Devapriya, a Class 9 student, broke a 38-year-old sub-junior girls’ 100m record by clocking 12.69 seconds, surpassing the 12.7-second mark set by Bindu Mathew of Kannur in 1987. During a media interaction after the event, coach Tiben Joseph revealed that Devapriya did not have a house of her own. On hearing this, CPI(M) Idukki district commettee announced it would construct a home for the record-breaking athlete.

At the revenue district sports meet, Devapriya had already secured gold in the 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles, and 4x100m relay, earning the individual championship. She is the daughter of Shaibu, a Deshabhimani agent, and Bismiya of Kattappana, and her elder sister, Devananda, also competes at the state level in relay and high jump events.
Former state level record holder Bindu Mathew, who now works with the railways in Piravom, personally congratulated Devapriya via video call, promising a gift for her outstanding achievement. Last year, Devapriya had already won gold in the 100m at the same meet, marking her as one of Kerala’s rising sprinting talents.
Atul’s Lightning Run Breaks 37-Year Record

In the junior boys’ 100m, Atul T.M. delivered a record-breaking performance, finishing in 10.81 seconds and surpassing the 1988 record of 10.90 seconds set by Ramkumar of GV Raja Sports School. Atul had already clocked 10.79 seconds in the heats.

In a touching gesture, former record holder Ramkumar, now a railway employee, personally presented a gift to Atul. “I’ve been waiting since 1991 with this gift,” Ramkumar said emotionally. Atul, whose father is an autorickshaw driver, expressed satisfaction at not just winning gold but also setting a new record. Despite limited training due to recent rains, his performance impressed spectators and coaches alike.