ALAPPUZHA: In a photo finish, Chambakulam chundan of the United Boat Club, Kainakari, lifted the 62nd Nehru Trophy in the race held at Punnamada lake on Saturday.
It was in a neck-to-neck rivalry that Chambakulam chundan raced past Sree Ganesan of the Freedom Boat Club, Kainakari.
Sree Ganeshan has reportedly been the winner of the trophy for the past two years. According to reports, this is the 12th time that Chambakulam chundan of the UBC Kainakari winning the Nehru trophy.
Tens of thousands witnessed the annual event reportedly paying no heed to the weather forecasts.
Runner-up Sree Ganesan was rowed by Freedom Boat Club, Kainakari, while the others in the first line, including Illikalam Chundan was rowed by Jeasus Boat Club, Kollam, and Payippadan chundan by rowers of Punnamada Boat Club, Alappuzha.
Majestcally rowed Alappadan chundan, decorated with umbrellas by the Friends Boat Club, Alappuzha, was the eye-stealer this year.
While Devas, rowed by Sangeetha Boat Club, Alappuzha, won the first position in Thekkenody thara vallam category, Kambini, rowed by Vanitha Boat Club, Kainakari, won the Thekkanody kettuvallam category.
Moonu Thaikkal, rowed by Kuttanad Boat Club, Mampuzhakari, took the lead in the Iruttukuthy ‘A’ grade, and Moonu Thaikkal, rowed by Lourde Matha Boat Club, Chennamkari-Kainakari, came out first in Veppu ‘B’ grade category. In Irruttukuthy category, while Thaniyan, rowed by Vismaya Boat Club, Chennamkari, won ‘B’ grade category, St Sebastian No 2, rowed by Lions Boat Club, Cheppanam, emerged victorious in ‘C’ grade.
Technical Glitch Delays NTBR Heats
Alappuzha: The Nehru Trophy Boat Race was delayed for more than half an hour owing to a technical glitch in the mechanised starting system acquired by the Nehru Trophy Boat Race(NTBR) Society with the help of the Department of Ship Technology, Cochin University. Following the technical hitch, the first heats of the snake boat race had to be rerun three times. The other heats were also delayed. Earlier, many boat race enthusiasts had raised doubts about the system. The NTBR authorities had set up the machines and conducted trial runs of the system on Friday. ENS