Date:10/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/10/stories/2008081050040100.htm

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Karichal lifts Nehru Trophy

Staff Reporter

Photo-finish: The final of the 56th Nehru Trophy Boat Race on Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha on Saturday.

ALAPPUZHA: In a pulsating final, 12-time winner Karichal Chundan, rowed by the Jesus Boat Club (JBC), Kollam, led Cheruthana Chundan by less than five seconds to lift the 56th Nehru Trophy held on Punnamada Lake here on Saturday.

Captained by Jiji Jacob Pollayil, this was the first Nehru Trophy win for the JBC, while for the legendary Karichal, this was its first after 2003.

It was sweet revenge for Karichal which had lost in a similar fashion to the Payipad Chundan rowed by the Kumarakom Town Boat Club (KTBC) last year.

The KTBC, which won the trophy for the last four years, rowed on the Pattara Chundan this time and finished fourth .

Cheruthana Chundan was rowed by the Angel Boat Club, Kottayam, while Payippad Chundan rowed by the Kumarakom Boat Club (KBC) finished third.

None of the nine clubs from the host district of Alappuzha managed to make it to the finals. In the other categories, Ambalakadavan of the Punnamada Boat Club retained its first place in the ‘Veppu’ Grade-A finals while Punnathra Purackal of the Lourde Matha Boat Club, Chenamkari, bagged first prize in the ‘Veppu’ Grade-B finals.

In the women’s final, the Chellikadan Boat of the Vembanad Lake Vanitha Boat Club, which had nine international rowers, finished second to the Kattil Thekkethil boat of the Alappuzha Town South Boat Club.

Earlier, Union Power Minister Susheel Kumar Shinde inaugurated the event and announced a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh from the Centre for the event.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar gave away the prizes in the presence of Public Works Minister Mons Joseph and Coir Minister G. Sudhakaran.