Sheikh Kamal Inter-School and Madrasa Athletics Championships are set to get underway from Saturday across the country with hopes of making athletics a popular discipline among school-going students in the future.

Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF), with financial assistance from Walton, is going to hold the Inter-School and Madrasa Athletics Championships for the first time. Some 2 million students, from grades six through 10, at the union and upazila level are expected to take part in the tournament featuring 17 events. 

"By holding the Inter-School and Madrasa Athletics Championships regularly, we want to make athletics an attractive and popular discipline among the student. We also hope the championship will help enrich the students' physical, mental and creative attributes," BAF president and the principal secretary to the Prime Minister, Tofazzel Hossain Miah, said at a press conference at the Bangabandhu National Stadium conference room yesterday.

The primary phase of the competition, at the union and upazila level, will be held from January 14 to 28 before it moves to the district level, which will be held from February 1 to 5. The divisional phase will be from February 9 to 13.

"We are hoping some 2 million students from 500 upazilas, 64 districts and eight divisions will be taking part in the championships," said Miah, adding that they also aim to keep track of the talented athletes from the championship for further training to ensure their development.