Sree Ganesan Chundan of the St Francis Boat Club, Harippad, emerged winner of the 61st Nehru Trophy Boat Race for the second time at Punnamada lake here on Saturday. In a scintillating display of rowing prowess, the Sree Ganesan Chundan, inched out Jawahar Thayankari of the Kumarakom Town Boat Club to the second place in the finals of the snakeboat category. Anari Puthen Chundan of the United Boat Club, Kainakary, and Illikkalam of the Vembanad Boat Club, Kumarakom, placed third and fourth respectively.
Velangadan of the United College, Ponga, has won the final round of ‘churulan’ category defeating Vengal Puthenveedan of Nattakam Village Boat Club, Kottayam. Devas of the Sangeetha Boat Club, Alappuzha, has won finals in the ‘thekkeanodi’ category rowed by women. Kattil thekkethu has been placed second in the category. In the ‘veppu B grade’, Chiramel Thottukadavan of the St Pious Xth Boat Club, Mankombu, defeated Punnatharpurackal of the Lourdh Matha Boat Club, Kainakari. In ‘Iruttukuthi A grade’, Moonu Thaikkal of Jayasree Boat club, Veliyanad, defeated Thuruthithara of Parackal Boat Club Maravanthuruth, Vaikom. Thaaniyan of Vismaya Boat Club, Chennamkari, won the ‘iruttukuthy B grade’ final.Kottaparamban of Thanthonnithuruth Boat Club, Kochi, won the ‘Veppu A grade’. Governor Nikhil Kumar inaugurated the boat race in the morning. Arunkumar, captain of the Sree Ganesan, received the silver trophy signed by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Union Minister of Tourism Chiranjeevi was the chief guest. Union Minister of State for civil Aviation K C Venugopal, Union Minister of State for Labour Kodikunnil Suresh and State Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar attended the function.