PRESIDENT’S TROPHY ASHTAMUDI BOAT RACE (Jawahar Thayankari takes the cup home)

PRESIDENT’S TROPHY

ASHTAMUDI BOAT RACE

(Jawahar Thayankari takes the cup home)

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Cutting through the Ashtamudi waters, snake-boat Jawahar Thayankari of Sangham Kannetti at Karunagapally beat three competitors to win the second President’s Trophy Boat Race held on the Asramam Creek of the Ashtamudi Lake on Thursday,1^st November,2012.The race was cheered by thousands who had thronged the banks. The snake boat Sree Ganesh of Kumarakam Boat Club which won the trophy last year was pushed to the second position. Devas of Victory Boat Club, Karunagapally, and Ayaparambu Paandi of Kottayam Town Boat Club came third and fourth.In addition to the coveted trophy the Jawahar Thayankari team also won a cash prize of Rs.1.50 lakh plus a bonus of Rs.1.75 lakh. Sree Ganesh won the trophy of the Kollam City Corporation and a cash prize of Rs.1.25 lakh. Devas got the R. Sankar Memorial Trophy and cash prize of Rs.1 lakh. Ayaparambu Paandi won the Younus College of Engineering trophy and cash prize of Rs. 75,000.

In the losers’ finals, Aanari Puthen of Jesus Boat Club, Kollam emerged the winner. In the Veppu A grade category, Kottaparappan of Saint Francis Boat Club, Kollam was the winner. In the Iruttukuthi category Saint Sebastian of Chepanam Boat Club won the race. In the Thekanodi category rowed by women the boat Devas of Victory Boat Club, Karunagapally was declared the winner. Earlier inaugurating the boat race, tennis player Sania Mirza said she was excited about inaugurating the event especially because the first President’s Trophy Boat Race was inaugurated last year by the then President Pratibha Patil. “I consider this big honour.”

She said she looked forward to a cruise on the Ashtamudi Lake. Sania was cheered and greeted with thundering applause by the crowd. Prior to the inaugural address, Sania met the teams and cheered them.The crowd was also addressed by Labour Minister Shibu Baby John; Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash; KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala; and Mayor Prasanna Earnest. N. Peethambara Kurup, MP, welcomed the gathering and District Collector P.G. Thomas presented the report.

Prof. John Kurakar