Nehru Trophy Boat Race: More than thirty women rowers to compete this year

Alappuzha: The iconic Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a grand regatta that celebrates the incredible strength, grit and resilience of both male and female rowers participating in the race. Six boats in the thekkanodi thara and kettu categories would be rowed by women. Each thekkanodi boat would have more than 30 women rowers in them. Meanwhile, five men are allowed to be on board during the race. Three of them would handle the pankayam or the big paddles, while two men would hit the rhythms. The men who are handling the pankayam can only control the boat but not row them. Besides, they must wear track suits or jerseys during the race to easily identify them.

What are thekkanodi boats?
Thekkanodi boats were used for temple processions and other rituals in the olden times. Based on the construction methods, thekkanodi boats are of thara and kettu varieties. Thara variety is built by joining wooden planks using iron and copper nails and adhesive. Meanwhile, kettuvallam is built by tying thick planks tightly with rope. Holes are drilled on the wooden planks to tie the rope. Cocopeat and adhesive, too, are inserted along with the rope to close these holes. After the rope has been tightly secured, the remaining rope is cut off. The holes are nicely sealed to prevent water from entering the boat. Meanwhile, the rope doesn’t loosen as it is tightly tied. Compared to thara varieties, kettuvallam are wider and heavier but also slower. Due to its complex construction methods, kettu vallams aren’t built now; those in use now were built many years ago.

Women rowers of Ernakulam
Women rowers from the neighbouring Ernakulam district will participate in the iconic event for the first time in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race history. The Cochin IBRA team will be rowing in the Chellikadan boat. Until now, women from only the Alappuzha and Kottayam districts have participated in the annual regatta.
The stars of exhibition matches
Even though women have rowed snake boats at the Nehru Trophy Boat Race venue in the past, it was for an exhibition match. They had rowed iron boats built mainly for the practice sessions.

SAI women's team
The women’s team of the Sports Authority of India had also taken part in last year’s competition. Kaattilthekethil boat will be rowed by SAI’s experienced women rowers this year. Even though these athletes have participated in many international events that draw spectators, they swear that the boat race enthusiasts here are the most vibrant and thrilling audience.
“Nehru Trophy has a natural vibe; no international event could match that. You could see two different types of audiences here and there. Even though people come to watch the matches, they aren’t this energetic. It indeed feels different to train at my own place and compete in front of my audience,” says SAI team captain Treasa Jacob. The team is trained under the guidance of SAI centre director Premjith Lal. He says that his disciples have always wished to compete in the event that takes place at the Punnamada Lake, where the SAI centre is.

These are the boats, clubs and team captains of women’s categories at this year’s Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
Thekkanodi kettuvallam
1) Padinjareparamban, Young Star Boat Club, B. Sreelatha
2) Kattilthekku, Pranavam Women’s Boat Club, Lovely Sabu
3) Chellikadan, IBRA Cochin, KS Rajeshwari
Thekkanodi tharavallam
1) Devas, Sports Authority, Treasa Jacob
2) Sarathy, Angel Women’s Boat Club, Subhadra Satheesh
3) Kattilthekethil, KPBC, Girija

Bonus for boats
The advance bonus distribution for the boats that are participating in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race began on Wednesday. Rs 1 lakh will be given for the snake boats while the small boats will get Rs 25,000 each. The rest of the bonus amount will be distributed after the race. The boats need to cross the finish line within a stipulated time limit to be eligible for the entire bonus amount. This year, 75 boats including 19 snake boats will compete in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

Meanwhile, the jersey distribution for the rowers too has begun. Prior permission needs to be sought by paying the stipulated fee to wear jerseys that aren’t distributed by NTBR. To prevent swapping rowers in snake boats during race, they are given id cards with hologram. The hologram id was distributed last year too. Meanwhile, the distribution of number plates for the competing boats too would begin soon. The boats are identified during the race with the help of these number plates that are fixed on the front side of the boats. These number plates will be distributed at the RDO office in Alappuzha.

Pavilion construction to be completed soon
The construction of the temporary pavilion is almost in its final stage. Meanwhile, district collector Alex Varghese, who is also the chairman of the NTBR society, said that the canopy will be completed soon. He visited the spot to oversee the preparations at the Nehru pavilion and other places in Punnamada. The sheets above the Nehru pavilion have been replaced; besides, around ten bio toilets will be installed here.

The district collector also assessed the seating arrangement for the media as well as for various ticket range. Meanwhile, canopies are being made at the Punnamada finishing point too. The rafters have been installed and the ceiling is paved for the canopies. The seating arrangements too are in the last phase. As the preparations are progressing rapidly, entry has been restricted for the houseboats and other boats to enter finishing point. The district collector was accompanied by district police chief MP Mohanchandran, executive engineer at the irrigation department MC Sajeevkumar and district information officer KS Sumesh.

Two more days for the grand regatta
The boats have already entered their final stages of intensive practice sessions. In addition to practising on the boats, the teams are finding time to row on the tracks. Meanwhile, a few new teams are trying to get maximum experience in the race of smaller boats before they enter the major league of snake boats.