In a thrilling finish to the 60th Nehru Trophy Boat Race at the Punnamada lake here, Sree Ganesan Chundan of Kainakari Freedom Boat Club won the coveted silver trophy bearing the signature of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on Saturday.
A galaxy of leaders, including Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and thousands of people witnessed the spectacular water carnival unique to Kerala.
Anari Chundan of Kollam Jesus Boat Club came second and Muttel Kainakari of United Boat Club Kainakari third.
Cheruthana Chundan of Kumarakom Boat Club won the fourth place. In all, 16 snake boats participated in the 1,210-metre race.
An exhibition competition of snake boats was also held on the occasion, in which Vadakke Attupuram of Lourd Matha Boat Club of Cheruthana stood first.
In the churulan category, Kuruppu Paramban of United College Ponga Nedumudi won the first place.
In thekkenodi category of women, Devas of Sangeetha Boat Club gained the first position.
In veppu ‘A’ grade, Kottaparamban of St Francis Boat Club came first. In veppu ‘B’ grade, Chiramel Thottukadavan won.
In iruttukuthy A’ grade, Thuruthithara gained the first place and in ‘B’ grade, Thaniyan of Vismaya Boat Club topped over the rest.
Earlier, Meira Kumar inaugurated the boat race. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi presidedover the function.
Oommen Chandy unveiled a statue of Jawaharlal Nehru. Union Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal, Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan, Ministers K M Mani, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, A P Anilkumar and K C Joseph and Kodikunnil Suresh MP spoke.
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