ALAPPUZHA: Jesus Boat Club's (JBC) Champakkulam, staved of a stiff challenge from Payippad to lift the 57th Nehru Trophy in a pulsating final on the Punnamada Lake here on Saturday. Seven time winner Champakkulam Chundan has also won this year's Champakkulam Moolam Boat Race under the JBC.
Champakkulam had won this prestigious trophy in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998. Captained by Jiji Jacob Pollayil, this was the second Nehru Trophy win for the JBC. The JBC had won Nehru Trophy in 2008 for legendary Karichal. However, this time Karichal led by Kollam Town Boat Club led by actor Kalabhavan Mani could finish only as second in first losers' final when the Payipaddu chudan led by UBC Kainakari finished second in the final. Sree Ganesh led by veteran Kumarakom Boat Club and Cheruthana chundan led by Manchadikkary Angel Boat Club finished as the third and fourth respectively in the final. Illikkulam Chundan, which attended the race first time under the Town Boat Club, Kumarakom, bagged the trophy for first runner up.
In the other categories, Ambalakadavan of the Punnamada Boat Club retained its first place in the ‘Veppu’ Grade-A finals and Punnathra Purackal of the Lourde Mata Boat Club, Chenamkari, also retained its first prize in the ‘Veppu’ Grade-B finals.
In the Thekkanodi women category, Devas of Vembanad Vanita Boat Club,which had ten international rowers bagged the first prize. In churulan catgeroy Velangadan led by Shalom College Kainakari bagged first. In Iruttukuthy B Grade final, Daniel of Pananghadu Boat Club won the first while in Iruttukuthy Grade A final, Thuruthithara of Piravam Boat club bagged first place. Earlier, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the event. Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan gave away the prizes to the winners.