'Aroma' show in Punnamada, big upset in Nehru Trophy Boat Race

ALAPPUZHA: In a big upset, newcomer Aroma won the 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race held at Punnamada Lake by a margin of just microseconds. Aroma finished in the final with a time of 4:23.328. Nadubhagam finished in second place with a time of 4:23.448, and Veeyapuram finished in third place with a time of 4:23.770. Melpadam came in fourth place with a time of 4:24.015.

71 boats, including 22 Chundan boats (beaked), participated in the competition this time. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan inaugurated the boat race at 2 pm. Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ministers Ramesh Chennithala, M. Liju, P.C. Vishnunath, Deputy Speaker Shanimol Usman, MPs KC Venugopal, Kodikunnil Suresh and others attended the function.

The events began at 11 am with the heats of the small boats. The inaugural session was followed by the mass drill. After the heats of the small boats, the final of the chundan boats was held. The Nehru Trophy winners will receive prize money of Rs. 25 lakhs.