Shillong, Jan 21 (IANS): The 12th South Asian Games (SAG) torch relay was flagged off here on Thursday by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

Guwahati and Shillong will jointly host the Games from February 6 to 16.

Sangma flagged off the "Run for North East" or the 5-km mini marathon from the Fire Brigade ground in the presence of a host of dignitaries and hundreds of people from across Meghalaya.

Olympic medallist Mary Kom, another Indian ace boxer Laishram Sarita Devi, Bollywood star Milind Soman and Meghalaya ministers and organising committee members of South Asian Games also attended the event.

"It is a privilege for the state to host a sporting event of such magnitude," Sangma said before flagging off the run.

Later, the mascot of the 12th SAG, Tikhor, handed over the relay torch to Chief Executive Officer SAG (Shillong) R.K. Sharma, who passed it on to Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith M. Sangma and subsequently to the chief guest, Mukul Sangma.

The chief minister handed over the torch to Mary Kom, who kick-started the mini marathon. The torch then went to Milind Soman, and from him Sarita Devi took over.