KOLLAM: Hopes are high for champions at the Nehru Trophy champions held at the Punnamada Lake, as they compete at the PTBR, before the home crowd. The Jesus Boat Club, Kollam, powered by the young and energetic sons of the Ashtamudi Lake, has earned the district a place in the snake boat competitions dominated by Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. Starting as the favourites in the race, they are expected to get maximum support from the Quilionite crowd. JBC has the distinction of being the first boat club from the southern Travancore to lift the prestigious Nehru Trophy, when they won it in 2008. The success was repeated in 2009 and in 2011. At a practice session at the PTBR race course on Monday, the JBC rowers seemed and excited lot. They were sliced through the Patron of the club Rev P Raju, said that there are few changes in the team which won the Nehru Trophy. Few ‘amarakkar’ have left us and we have replaced them,he said. The season began on bad note for the team as they were disqualified for a track violation at the Chamapkulam Moolam boat race, after being declared as winners initially. The Nehru trophy finals too led to some disputes between rowers. Both the races were decided in photo finishes. Following the victory at Nehru Trophy team had dedicated several days practising rigorously at their camp at Kureepuzha parish hall. At PTBR, the team will be led by George D Kattil. Kattil told Express that they expect the best from the team at the President’s Trophy and it would be an honour to lift the first edition of the PTBR held in Kollam.
Comments
0 comment