Chennai to host first intl. schools regatta

Updated on: Tuesday, July 27, 2010

176 boys and girls at grass roots level of the sport, representing 52 schools from four countries, will be exhibiting their talent in the UNIFI Capital ASRA Regatta 2010, to be held here from July 28 to 31.

Upcoming rowers from five Asian countries, India, Pakistan, Japan, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates will be vying for 12 Gold medals at stake as in Olympic Games and Asian Games, Association of School Rowing in Asia(ASRA) Vice President Farid Hussain announced at a press conference today.

Schools in India will include those from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bengal and Assam, he said.

The competitions will be held in Single Sculls, Double Sculls and Coxed Fours, in two categories Under 15 and over 15 years for boys and girls each with three events. Each school can enter a maximum of two teams for each events. Each participant can enter a maximum of two events.

The event is sponsored by UNIFI Captial (P)Ltd, whose Managing Director Sarath Reddy said ''with more than 14 medals at stake as in Olympics and Asian Games, events like this regatta are quintessential to nurture the skills of young oarsmen. Rowing has not uniform support. We as a company will continue to support such events in everyway possible to with the hope that our rowers would also be striking a Gold.'' Pakistan, which faced problems over getting the visa for this event will be fielding a team of 45 rowers, their manager Aysha an office bearer of ASRA said. Sri Lanka where rowing is a very popular sport in schools, will be fielding rowers from 13 schools, according to G S Lasantha, also a member of ASRA.

Hussain said as ASRA was trying for affiliation and recognition from Asian Rowing Federation, ARF would be sending its observer.

While the inaugural edition in 2009 was held in Colombo, plans are afoot to hold the next edition in Kodaikanal, Mr Hussain indicated.

Chennai to host first intl. schools regatta

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