NAGAYALANKA (KRISHNA): Women rowers stole the show during the boat race held in river Krishna at Nagayalanka village in Krishna district, marking Sankranti celebrations.
The Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the local communities, conducted the traditional boating race, which received overwhelming response from the rowers as well as the public.
The women of Krishna and Guntur districts displayed their talent of rowing. Each couple led by Oleti Venkateswara Rao, Revula Haribabu and Nagidi Sambasiva Rao won the first place by boating the one km distance between the two river banks at Nagayalanka ghat.
The organisers presented the prize money of Rs. 5,000 to the each couple. Fifty couples belonging to Krishna and Guntur districts participated in the race.
In the group boating category, Nagidi Nagababu led Gangaputrulu team won the first place while Bommadi Venkateswara Rao and Gopireddi Sriniva Rao teams won the second and the third places. As many as 32 teams each comprising five members participated in the boating race.
Many local people turned out to witness the boating race. It was learnt that the women rowers are engaged in fishing activity and fishing on the boat is part of their life.
Senior Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh official L.V. Subrahmanyam announced that the Nagayalanka ghat would be developed to make it a water sports hub in future. Tourism Secretary N. Srikanth and Krishna District Collector Babu A. also interacted with the winners of the boat race.
Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad presented prizes to the winners and thanked the officials who explored the potential of the Nagayalanka ghat for water sports and boat racing.
