In a pulsating final in which the differences of microseconds decided the winner, Karichal Chundan of Pallathuruthy Boat Club (PBC) pipped Veeyapuram Chundan to win the 70th Nehru Trophy Boat Race. When Karichal won at a timing of 4.29785, Veeyapuram Chundan of Village Boat Club, Kainakari clocked 4.29790. This is the fifth consecutive win for PBC and a historic 16th win for the boat Karichal Chundan. Nadubhagam Chundan of Kumarakom Town Boat Club won third place, and Niranam Chundan of Niranam Boat Club came fourth. All the teams in the final finished with differences below one second.
Karichal leapt into the final with the best timing of 4.14.35 in the heats. Previously, it won in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2011 and 2016. Meanwhile, PBC was the winner for the past four years under the tutelage of Vinod M P and Hiran Kumar. The grand old boat club have won the Nehru Trophy six times before this year. Their boat of the year, Karichal Chundan, boasts an impressive record of 16 title wins. Besides, the club has won all three CBL seasons, too. The skippers of the boat were Alan Moonnuthaikkal and Aiden Moonnuthaikkal. A total of 19 boats took part in the five heats before the final event.
