Nehru Trophy Boat Race: Know more about 19 teams vying for top spot this year

Alappuzha: The much-awaited Nehru Trophy Boat Race will thrill the calm waters of the Punnamada Lake on September 28. Meanwhile, the boat samitis and clubs are busy with the last-minute preparations for the annual regatta. Each boat club will be vying for the legendary Nehru Trophy signed by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. From some iconic clubs as old as the boat race to new clubs and teams, 19 snake boats will be participating in the race this year. Interestingly, out of the 19 teams, five would compete in their own snakeboats. Apart from a few boats, all others have started training weeks ago. Besides, the rowers got enough practice as they participated in back-to-back competitions during the Onam season. If you plan to watch this annual regatta, here is a short history of some of the iconic boat clubs that made the Nehru Trophy race famous. 

Pallathuruthy boat club
The Pallathuruthy Boat Club(PBC) will create a unique record in the history of Nehru Trophy if they win the cup this year. The team has been the winners for the last four years and if they raise the trophy this week, then it will be their fifth consecutive win. Only PBC and Kumarakam Boat Club (2004 – 07) have been able to register four consecutive wins until now. PBC won the trophy from 2018 to 2023. The boat race was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The grand old boat club have won the Nehru Trophy six times. Interestingly, this year, the club would be helming the Karichal chundan that boasts of an impressive record of 15 title wins. Besides, the club has won all three CBL seasons, too. The skippers of the boat are Alan Moonnuthaikkal and Aiden Moonnuthaikkal. 

UBC Kainakari
With 12 Nehru Trophy wins in their kitty, UBC Kainakary is the club that has won the most number of times. Even though the boat club has a strong fan base, they have not been able to win a trophy in recent years. Meanwhile, the club has won two hattricks in 1963, 64 and 65 as well as in 1989, 90 and 91. Besides, they were winners in 1968, 70, 76, 79, 93 and 2014. In the second season of CBL, the club won four races to bag the second place. UBC Kainakary will be rowing the Thalavady chundan that is just two years old. The captain of the boat is Padmakumar Puthenparambil. 

Village Boat Club, Kainakary
The Village Boat Club that has won the Nehru Trophy in 1986 and 87 on the iconic Karichal snake boat would be competing to reclaim their old reputation. The team that was absent from the boat race after 1988 made a comeback in 2022. The team would be rowing the Veeyapuram chundan that won the Nehru Trophy and CBL title last year. PV Mathew Pawothil is the skipper of the boat. 

Kumarakam Town Boat Club
The boat club that was formed in 1971 has made their mark on the race tracks in Punnamada many times. They have won the Nehru trophy six times including the four consecutive wins in 2004, 05, 06 and 07. They raised the trophy in 1999 and 2010 and had finished second in the last two years. This year, the Kumarakam Boat Club will be competing in the Nadubhagam chundan that holds the record for entering the finals most number of times. Nadubhagam snake boat won the second place in 2022 and finished third in 2023. Sudheesh Nandi Kannanthara will helm the boat during the race. 

Punnamada Boat Club
The Punnamada Boat Club, which was formed in 2006, had initially competed in the veppu category. They won the Nehru Trophy in the veppu A grade category in 2008, 09 and 10. In 2022, the club rowed a snake boat for the first time and came fourth in Veeyapuram boat. Besides, the club has also participated in the three seasons of the CBL. This year, the club rows Chambakkulam chundan that has won the Nehru Trophy an impressive eight times including two hattricks. Meanwhile, the skipper of the boat is Santhosh T Kuruvila. 

Alappuzha Town Boat Club
The Alappuzha Town Boat Club began this season with two major wins at the Chambakkulam Moolam boat race and Karumadi boat race. The team is all set to repeat their winning streak at the Nehru Trophy too. The club formed in 1992 has won the Nehru Trophy four times and had qualified for the finals 11 times. They won the trophy in 1994, 95, 96 and 2000. In 1994, the team competed as Jet Airways Boat Club, missing their chance to win a hattrick. This year, the club would be rowing the Puthen chundan, a predecessor of the legendary Payipadan chundan that won the Nehru Trophy four times including a hattrick in 2005, 06 and 07. Jose Arathumpally is the captain of the boat. 

Jesus Boat Club (Anari boat samiti)
The Jesus Boat Club backed out of the race due to financial struggle when the Nehru Trophy was postponed. Now, the Anari boat samiti will be competing as Jesus Boat Club. Interestingly, the Anari boat samiti will be debuting in the Nehru Trophy as a club. Jesus Boat Club’s best performance in Nehru Trophy was in 2012 when they finished second.