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A show of their muscles, sculls
Practice makes them perfect.
COME SUMMER, rowers throng the Kodaikanal Boat and Rowing Club for racing and practicing.
Normally, interschool-level rowing competitions are held during the summer festival, using traditional tub boats.
This summer is witnessing `a battle of young warriors,' armed with oars and sculls, on the surface of the chill and calm waters of the Kodaikanal lake.
The Tamil Nadu Amateur Rowing Association is organising the `seventh sub - junior and ninth challenger men sprint (non-medallists) for a national rowing championship 2004' at this high altitude centre with an international standard, thanks to the efforts made by the club. The competition, which began on June 9, comes to a close on June 12.
Certainly, a rare chance for the rowers as well as the public to witness the event at Kodaikanal. Service personnel and Border Security Force men are also showing their strength at the show.
For the young competitors from 15 States, the event is be a great show to test their stamina, as the oxygen level is low in hills.
A police team comprising R. Govindaraj, M. Mani, M. Thamizharuvi and T. Antony, the lone team representing Tamil Nadu for the `challenger sprint (non-medallists)' is confident. With sufficient practice, these young athletes hope to get the medal.
"It is a strenuous event. We need more stamina to win the contest. Taking part in it at a high altitude centre enhances our stamina," they said.
Conducting such a mega event is not an easy task. The club had invested Rs.10 lakhs for purchasing sculls alone. With the purchase of six sculls, the strength of sculls in the club has increased to 16, sufficient to conduct even national-level competitions.
The vice-president of the club, Bhavani Shankar, said the club had been changing its style of boat race training from traditional boats to sculls. In future, sculls alone will take rowers at Kodaikanal to national and international waters.
A 500-metre race will be made a 2000-metre one in future. The club will also strive to make the club a high altitude scull-training centre for athletes not only from the State but also from other countries.
The International Coach Chacko Kandathil said the government had been concentrating on prospective athletes at subjunior-levels. "All arrangements have been made as per rules and regulations followed in international events. This event will certainly encourage young rowers to test their muscles."
From K. Raju in Dindigul.
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Life
Bangalore
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