Kumarakom: Alongside local rowers, non-Malayali oarsmen will also add glitter and spirit of rivalry to the Nehru Trophy Boat Race to be held at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha next month. Oarsmen from Kashmir, Manipur, and Uttarakhand have reached Kumarakom, the famed backwater tourist destination and the cradle of boat races, to participate in the trials of the event.
A first for many guest rowers
Around 50 people have come from other states to paddle in various Chundans in Kumarakom. They reached Kochi by flight and then proceeded by road to Kumarakom. The boat clubs bore the flight charges and their entire cost to arrive here. This is the first time many of these ‘guests’ are seeing the long and uniquely shaped Chundan boats in person.
However, some of them had previously rowed for the Kumarakom Boat Club. The newly introduced oarsmen were taken aback at first seeing the uniquely shaped boats, but they learned to row with the trainer's instructions.
The boat clubs have also brought smaller boats for them to practice and learn to row. They have also arranged special camps and food too for the rowers.
Rowers from Manipur
The oarsmen from Manipur are worried about the developments taking place in their home state.
Niranam Rajan as brand ambassador of Niranam Chundan
Niranam Rajan, who set a record by delivering ‘Kathaprasangam’, the unique Malayalam storytelling art on stage, will act as the brand ambassador of Niranam Chundan. Niranam Rajan, who has completed 50 years of delivering Kathaprasangam, has the distinction of being the only storyteller to deliver the art continuously for 24 hours.
He has also acted in many films. The NCDC Boat Club, Kaipuzhamuttu, is rowing in the Niranam Chundan in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. In the Champions Boat League also, the club will row in Niranam Chundan. The flag-off of the practice of the boat club in Niranam Chundan will be held near Vallarappally at 7 am today. Sub-Inspector S Suresh and Kathikan Niranam Rajan will jointly flag off the inaugural practice.
