Kuttanad’s festival Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009 has begun with great festivities today.

Champakkulam Chundan won the Nehru Trophy 2009. Champakkulam Chundan is led by Captain Jiji Jacob of JesusBoat Club, Kollam. JesusBoat Club, Kollam won the Nehru Trophy last year also in Karichal Chundan. Champakulam Chundan last won Nehru Trophy in 1998.

Nehru Trophy Results:
1st Place: Champakkulam Chundan
2nd Place: Payippad
3rd Place: Sree Ganesh
4th Place: Cheruthana

Earlier, Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi is the Chief Guest for Nehru Trophy 2009. She inaugurated the 57th Nehru Trophy Boat Race. There is about 2 lakh tourist in Alappuzha today to watch this event.

The 57th Nehru Trophy Boat race had 17 Chundans, 8 Veppu valloms in category A, 5 in Category B, Iruttukuthys -5 in A category & 15 in Category B, 5 Churulans and 4 Thekkanodis. A 30-member team of women including nine foreigners will compete in the 57th Nehru snake boat race at the Punnamada lake.

Other Winners:

Chundan Runners Up:
IIIikkalam rowed by TownBoat Club Kumarakam captained by Dr.P. R. Kumar won the Looser's Final in Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009.
Second : Karichal
Third : Karuvatta Chundan
Fourth : Ayaparampu Valiya Divanji

Chundan 2nd Runners Up:
Karuvatta Srivinayakan rowed by PunnamadaBoat Club captained by JosephFransis won the Second Looser's Final in Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009.
Second : Vellamkulangara
Third : Jawahar Thayankeri
Fourth : Anari

Chundan Second Looser's Final Winner:
Alappadan Chundan rowed by ChangamkariBoat Club (C.B.C.) captained by K.C. Kunjumon won the Third Looser's Final in Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009.
Second : Kalloopparamban
Third : St. George
Fourth : Nadubhagaom Chundan

Veppu Grade 'A' Winner
Ambalakkadavan rowed by Punnamada Boat Club, Alappuzha captained by AjuJacob Mathew won the Veppu Grade A in Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009.
Second: Venghazhi
Third : Jai Shot
Fourth : Patteri Purackal

Veppu Grade 'B' Winner
Punnathra Purackal rowed by LoordhmathaBoat Club, Chennamkari captained by BijuJohn won the Veppu Grade B in Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009.
Second : Chiramel Thottukadavu
Third : Otta Thyckal

Iruttukuthi 'A' Grade Winner
Thuruthithara rowed by PiravamBoat Club (P.B.C.) captained by BabuVarghese won the Iruttukuthi A grade in Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009.
Second : Mammoodan
Third : Padakkuthira
Fourth : Karuvelithara

Iruttukuthi 'B' Grade Winner
Daniel rowed by PananghaduBoat Club (P.B.C.) captained by Rajeev won the Iruttukuthi B grade in Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009.
Second Place: Sree Guruvayurappan

Churulan Winner:
Velangadan rowed by ShalomCollege, Kainakari captained by JobiAnchil won the Churulan Boat Race in Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2009. Second place is for Kodimatha Churulan Boat.

THEKKANODI Winner:
Devas rowed by VembanaduVanitha Boat Club captained by SindhuSajeevan won the Thekkanodi Boat Race in Nehru Trophy. This is the Boat in which nine foreign women also took part.
Second : Chellikkadan
Third : Company Vallom
Fourth : Kattil Thekkethil