With just two days left for the 64th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the four teams from Kottayam are engaged in a fierce training programme.
In fact, Mutherimada, off Kumarakom, has earned the status of a minor destination for the boat race aficionados. Here, three boat clubs from Kumarakom have been practicing for the past one week. The Kumarakom Vembanad Boat Club has decided to contest on Karichal Chundan. Last year’s winner, the club has decided to field members of the Services team on the boat. Meanwhile, oarsmen from the Kumarakom Town Boat Club will contest on Aanari chundan.
The Kumarakom Village Boat Club will contest in Payippad Chundan while oarsmen from the Thruvarpu Boat Club has decided on St. George Puthenchundan.
Daily two training sessions
Every day there will be at least two training sessions, one which commences by 10 a.m. and the other by 3 p.m. While almost all the four clubs are veterans who have lifted the trophy more than once, the training sessions are as intense as the one at the regatta at Punnamada scheduled for Saturday.