The annual sports meet of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT)-Patna started on Friday.

Around 280 students from different batches would participate in the three-day meet that will conclude on Sunday.

The timing and participation of students from all branches and departments in the sports meet assumes importance as recently BIT-Patna campus witnessed group clash between senior and junior students.

Sources in the BIT said the college administration organised the meeting to revive team spirit and mutual cooperation among the students.

In December last year, seniors and juniors of the tech cradle clashed over a trivial issue. Their seniors allegedly beat up the junior students. Inaugurating the meet, BIT director S.K. Lal said: 'Sports inculcate discipline and team spirit among students. Through such events students learn to work in a team.'

Saurav Tiwary, a third-year student, said: 'The teams were divided in such a way that students from all four years were part of each team.' The four teams were electrical and electronics engineering (EEE), electronics & communication engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science and IT.

The students were seen participating in the meet as a team. Students of architecture, civil and production were included in the mechanical team. There were separate events for girls.

A student said: 'With the sports meet, differences between the seniors and the juniors have ended. All students participated like one team. We decided to include students from different years in the team to bury the differences.'

On the first day, 100m, 800m, broad jump, javelin throw, shot-put, 200m, tug-of-war were organised. In the shot-put men category, the winner was Amit Dixit of computer science and IT team. In the women category Vibhawri of ECE was the winner, while Ankita Lal of (CSE) stood second.

In the 1,500m race, Sujit Kumar of (EEE) was the winner, while Pawan Kumar stood second. In the long jump women category, Krishnavali (CS-IT) was winner, while Shilpi Singh stood second. In the long jump men, Ashok Kujur of (CS-IT) stood first followed by Ravi Shankar of (EEE). In javelin throw Hemant Kumar stood first, while Himanshu of (CSE) came second.