More than 100 kayakers from across the world will be competing for the International Kayaking Championship organised as part of the Seventh edition of the Malabar River Festival (MRF) that begins at Thusharagiri on Friday.
Manesh Bhasker, Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society, said here on Wednesday that kayakers from nine countries were taking part in the event. Teams from various Indian States, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and the Navy are participating in the championship. More athletes are expected to arrive by Friday, he added.
Event calendar
“For the first time, MRF has found a place in the event calendar of the International Canoe Federation, and it is a very important step,” said MRF founder Jacopo Nordera.
Manik Taneja of Madras Fun Tools, another organiser, said that over the years, MRF has made a definite impact on the local community. “We have 10 to 15 active kayakers from Kerala taking part in the event. We keep getting queries from all parts of the State,” he said, adding that the number of women athletes this year was the highest at 20.
The organisers are also taking extreme precautions to keep the environment around the rivers intact. “It is a challenge to keep the place clean with so many viewers. But we do our best to leave the place as it is or even better. No plastic bottles will be used,” Mr. Nordera said.
The local community should realise that the river is crucial in the business that is brought to their doorstep owing to MRF, and hence they should take steps to keep it clean and welcoming, Mr. Taneja said.
Earlier, around 20 international kayakers were accorded a civic reception in Kozhikode as part of the Calicut Cycle Carnival organised by the Kozhikode District Panchayat along with Green Care Mission.
