Preparations are in full swing for the 68th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR). As many as 77 boats including 20 chundan vallams (snakeboats) will participate under nine categories in this year's race, which will be held on Punnamada Lake on September 4. Tracks and heats for the snakeboat race were finalised through a draw of lots on Saturday. It was inaugurated by District Collector Krishna Teja. There will be a total of five heats.
Snakeboats/clubs competing in heats 1 are: Ayaparampu Pandi (KBCSBC, Kumarakom); Karuvatta (Karuvatta Jalolsava Samithi); Alappadan Puthan (Town Boat Club, Kuttanad); and Champakulam (Police Boat Club, Alappuzha). They will compete on tracks 1 to 4 respectively.
Heats 2: Cheruthana (Freedom Boat Club, Kollam); Valiya Diwanji (Valiya Diwanji Boat Club); Mahadevikadu Kattil Thekkethil (Pallathuruthy Boat Club); and Anari (Village Boat Club, Kainakary).
