Kottayam: Nadubhagam Chundan of the Pallathuruthy Boat Club won the Thazhathangadi Champions Boat League 2019 held along the Meenachil river on Saturday.
Nadubhagam emerged first as it crossed the finishing point in 3.23.86 minutes. Devas Chundan of the NCDC Boat Club at Kaipuzhamuttu in Kumarakom secured the second spot by reaching in 3.25.49 minutes, while Veeyapuram Chundan of the Kumarakom Vembanad Boat Club finished the race in 3.25.85 minutes to emerge third runners-up. It was a neck-and-neck contest between the first three winners. However, Nadubhagam secured a clear lead as it neared the finishing point.
Nadubhagam had won also the first place in the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat Race recently.
At the Thazhathangadi heats, Veeyapuram had emerged winners with the shortest time of 3.21.52 minutes. However, it failed to maintain the momentum in the finals and was pushed to the third spot.
Karichal Chundan of the Police Boat Club was at the fourth spot, while the Chambakulam Chundan of the UBC Kainakary was at the fifth spot and Mahadevikadu Kattil Thekethu of KBC Kumarakom and NFBC Kollam was at the sixth spot.
Payyippad Chundan of the Kumarakom Town Boat Club finished seventh, while Gabriel of the Edathua Village Club was at the eight spot and the St George Chundan of the Edathua Brothers' Boat Club was at the ninth spot.
Former Civil Aviation Secretary K Roy Paul inaugurated the boat race. Dronacharya Award recipient and trainer K P Thomas gave away the trophies to the winners.
The Kottayam West Club, District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Kottayam municipality and Thiruvarpu panchayat had joined hands for successfully organising the regatta.
Other winners
Veppu Grade-I category – Shet Pulikathara of the Kumarakom Samudra Boat Club. Captain S Shrikanth
Veppu Gradu-II category – P G Karippuzha of Parrippu Boat Club. Captain Melvin Jacob Abraham
Iruttukuthi Grade-I category – Moonu Thekkan of Olassa Friends' Boat Club. Captain E S Mahesh, V Vimalkumar
Iruttukuthi Grade-II category – St Antony of Kochi Boat Club (Panangad). Captain Ajith Muchangal
Churulan Grade-I category – Velangadan of Virippukala Boat Club. Captain K K Shishupalan
