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Choosing the champion
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The city is hosting the 22nd National Rowing Championship, which is on till February 23. The event features 200 participants from 15 states and the services.
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CHENNAI IS hosting the 22nd National Rowing Championship from February 20-23 on the Adyar river. The last time the city hosted this prestigious national event was in 1992. There are 200 participants from 15 states and the services. The events include single and double sculls, coxless pairs and coxed fours.
The Tamil Nadu Amateur Rowing Association (TARA) and The Madras Boat Club (MBC) have joined hands to conduct the championship.
According to A.Venkat, the indoor rowing event is being held for the first time in the city. A row of hi-tech rowing equipment would be lined along the banks of the river for the 2000 metres race.
Tracing the origins of rowing in Chennai, MBC secretary, V.N.Rajendar pointed out the old oaken board at the club on which the names of the previous national winners, most of them Britishers, are emblazoned — Turnbull, Todhunter, White, Ellis and Llyod. Not long ago these were road names in Madras. Some still are, while the roads that have been renamed continue to be referred to by their old name. And the organisers of this national event are also past champions — Rajendar, Venkat, Ravindar and Gayathri. Their names too figure on the board.
Fortunately, the monsoon has ensured that 800-metre lanes are possible for the event. Dredging would extend this to 2000 metres. An interesting aspect of the Tamil Nadu team is that all the rowers are students. And the venerable Madras Boat Club, which started in 1867, has remained remarkably focussed on the sport.
M. SRINATH NARAYAN
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