Aroma Chundan lifts Nehru Trophy in a thrilling final

Aroma Chundan of Aroma Boat Club, a newbie club, rowed to a sensational win in the 72nd edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race on the sunlit waters of Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha on August 22, Saturday. The champions finished the race at 4.23.328 mins. Nadubhagam Chundan of Punnamada Boat Club came second, with 4.23.448 mins. Veeyapuram of UBC Kainakary came third in 4.23.778 mins, and Melppadam Chundan of Pallathuruthy Boat Club came fourth.

In the finals of the snake boats, Melppadam Chundan was on track one. Meanwhile, Veeyapuram was on second track, Aroma Chundan on third and Nadubhagom Chundan on the fourth track. The winners celebrated their hard-earned triumph as thousands of spectators cheered from the banks and galleries.

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheeshan inaugurated the event. Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was among the prominent guests. Shivakumar also wished the spectators 'Onam aashamsakal' during his speech. Kerala Tourism Minister PC Vishnunadh, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Alappuzha MP KC Venugopal and many other dignitaries also attended the inaugural function. 71 boats took part in the annual regatta this year across various categories.

The entry to the final
The boats entered the finals with impressive timings. Melppadam Chundan of PBC clocked 4.15 mins, Nadubhagom Chundan of Punnamada Boat Club finished the race in 4.16 mins, Viyapuram Chundan of UBC Kainakary entered the finals with 4.20 mins, and the eventual champions, Aroma Chundan of Aroma Boat Club, got the timing of 4.26 mins to enter the finals.

Chundans at Nehru Trophy this year (club name in brackets)
1. Thalavady Chundan (Kainakary Village Boat Club)
2. Veeyapuram Chundan (UBC Kainakary)
3. Aroma Chundan 1 (Aroma Boat Club)
4. Melpadam Chundan (Pallathuruthy Boat Club)
5. Cheruthana Chundan (Nattakom Boat Club)
6. Punyalan Niranam Chundan (Kumarakam Town Boat Club)

7. Nadubhagam Chundan (PBC, Punnamada, Nadubhagam Chundan Fans Club)
8. Karuvatta Chundan (GLC Boat Club, Cheruthana)
9. Vellamkulangara Chundan (SH Boat Club)
10. Jawahar Thayankari Chundan (Nattakom Fans Boat Club)
11. St. Pius X Chundan (St. Pius X Boat Club)
12. Niranam Chundan (Niranam Boat Club)
13. Ayaparambu Valiya Diwanji Chundan (Valiya Diwanji Boat Club)

14. Anari Chundan (Anari Boat Club)
15. Champakkulam Chundan (Champakkulam Boat Club)
16. Karichal Chundan (Thekkekara Boat Club)
17. Ayaparambu Pandi Chundan (IBRA, Cochin)
18. Karuvatta Sree Vinayakan Chundan (KTBC Fans Club)

19. Arpookkara Chundan (Kumarakam Emmanuel Boat Club)
20. Alappad Chundan (St. John’s Boat Club)
21. Payippadan Chundan 2 (Pallathuruthy Boat Club)
22. Parthan Chundan (Junior Kainakary Boat Club)

Number of boats
Chundan – 22
Iruttukuthi B – 16
Iruttukuthi C – 14
Veppu A – 05
Veppu B – 04
Churulan – 03
Iruttukuthi A – 03
Thekkanodi Kettu – 04
Thekkanodi Thara – 01