Several changes were brought in this time for the Nehru trophy boat race here on Saturday. Digital timing was adopted to ascertain the time clocked by the snakeboats taking part in the race.
There were 20 snakeboats vying for the trophy, apart from five others which were included in the exhibition category.
The contestants in the final round were selected on the basis of time clocked in five heats.
The boats which clocked the lowest timings were the finalists unlike in the past when those who came first qualified.
A total of 66 boats participated in the races this year, a record in terms of the number of participants. The race also got a title sponsor – Honda Motor Cycles and Scooters India Limited.