Aroma Chundan Clinches Thazhathangady Boat Race in Close Finish

Aroma Chundan completed the Thazhathangady Boat Race in 3 minutes and 21.227 seconds, winning the Kottayam leg of the Champions Boat League (CBL).

Aroma Chundan leads close finish

Rowed by the Aroma Boat Club of Paravur in Kollam, Aroma Chundan crossed the finish line ahead of Melpadam Chundan and Niranam Chundan.

Melpadam Chundan, rowed by Pallathuruthy Boat Club, finished second in 3 minutes and 21.802 seconds.

Niranam Chundan of Niranam Boat Club took third place in 3 minutes and 21.925 seconds.

The narrow timing gap between the three leading boats marked a closely contested finish in the race.

Veeyapuram finished fourth, followed by Cheruthana, Arppookara, Punyalan Niranam, Nadubhagam and Thalavady in fifth to ninth positions, respectively.

Winners in smaller boat categories

The event also included competitions in smaller boat categories.

Puthenparambil won the Iruttukuthi B-grade event, while Champion secured the Veppu B-grade title.

Moozhi emerged victorious in the Churulan category, and Munnuthaikkal won the Iruttukuthi A-grade event.

Prize distribution and ceremony

Aroma Boat Club will receive ₹5 lakh in prize money for the victory.

Pallathuruthy Boat Club will receive ₹3 lakh for finishing second, while Niranam Boat Club will receive ₹1 lakh for securing third place.

District Police Chief K.M. Sabu Mathew distributed the prizes at the valedictory function.

Earlier in the day, Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan inaugurated the race at a function presided over by Water Resources and Housing Minister Mons Joseph.

Mr. Joseph said the Speaker had submitted a proposal to construct a permanent pavilion for the Thazhathangady boat race.

He said the government would examine the proposal and take a favourable decision.

Kottayam Municipal Chairperson M.P. Santhosh Kumar hoisted the flag to mark the beginning of the ceremony.

The Speaker released the boat race souvenir by handing over a copy to Mr. Joseph.

Kottayam MP Francis George flagged off the mass drill by the snake boats and the water procession.

District Collector Chetan Kumar Meena also spoke at the event.

Source: The Hindu