71st Nehru trophy boat race: Veeyapuram Chundan wins title

ALAPPUZHA: Veeyapuram, owned by VBC Kainakary, has emerged as the winner of the 71st Nehru trophy boat race. The thrilling competition took place on the Punnamada Lake, and the victory was decided in a photo finish. Veeyapuram was in the lead right from the beginning. Though Meppadam and Nadubhagom mounted strong challenges midway through the race, Veeyapuram held its ground and powered ahead in the final stretch to secure a narrow win.

A total of 21 chundan vallams (snake boats) participated in the tournament, which consisted of six heats. The final round featured four teams: Melepadam, Niranam, Nadubhagom, and Veeyapuram. A virtual line system was used this year to avoid disputes over the finish.