Photofinish final; Karichal Chundan becomes King of Water in Nehru Trophy boat race; five cups in a row for Pallathuruthy Boat Club

ALAPPUZHA: Karichal Chundan was crowned as the king of water at the end of the excitement at Punnamadakkayal. Pallathuruthy Boat Club has created history by becoming the first club to win the cup five times in a row at the 70th Nehru Trophy boat race. The competition was inaugurated by Minister P A Muhammed Riyas at 2 pm.

The heats competition of the chundan boats, which boat lovers have been waiting for, began at 3.30 pm. A total of 19 chundan boats participated in five heats competitions. Four teams who finished in the heats event in the shortest possible time qualified for the finals. Karichal (4:14:35), Viyapuram (4:22:58), Niranam (4:23:00) and Nadubhagam (4:23:31) competed in the finals.

The chundan boats Payippadan No. 2, Alappadan, Aayamparamb Pandi and Aanari competed in Heats 1. In the second heats, chundan boats Sreevinayakan, Champakkulam, St George and Jawahar Thayankari
competed. Heats 3 consisted of Cheruthana Chundan, Thalavadi Chundan, St. Pius X and Payippadan. Heats 4 consisted of Niranam Chundan, Veeyapuram, Nadubhagam and Karuvatta Chundan and heats 5 consisted of Valiya Diwanji, Melpadam and Kaarichal Chundans.

The boat race, which was postponed to August 10 due to the Wayanad tragedy, was held today. A total of 72 boats, including 19 chundans, participated in the competition. Thousands of people, including those from abroad, came to watch the race.