Kolkata: The six day intense competition finally saw DAV Chandigarh, South Point, La Martiniere Kolkata and Jatragachi Pranabananda High School emerge as the champions in their respective categories in the 45th KC Mahindra All India Invitation School Regatta, which came to an end at the Lake Club course in Ravindra Sarovar on Sunday.
The children from these schools toiled it out in the intense Kolkata heat and won laurels for their schools in the competition that was restricted to the fours events only and was rowed over a course length of 500 metres.
In the senior girls category, Mahi Lal, Ishani Bachwat, Sanjana Ghosh and Viveka Mansata ensured that La Martinere retained their the gold medal they had won last year , after they went past St. John’s Diocesan clocking 2m17.58s. The bronze medal in this category was won by Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan.
In the junior girls category, South Point School who are always tough opponents to compete against won the gold after clocking 2m31.48s in the final against La Martinere. G D Birla Center for Education secured the third place in this category.
The junior boys category saw the boys from Jatragachi taste success after they put in a lot of hard work in a year to come back as a stronger unit and win the gold beating St. Lawrence in the finals. Rajesh Ali, Rejaul Karim, Afridi Ali and eleven year old Rajaul Molla of the Jatragachi team, all of whom are from not well-to-do backgrounds gave it their all to beat St.Lawrence in the finals, clocking 2m36.64s. La Martinere for Boys won the bronze from this group.
The final match the senior boys category, touted as the “Grand Finale” by many saw DAV Chandigarh win the gold beating National High School. The third place in this category was secured by South Point.
At the end of it all was the prize distribution ceremony where the winners were rightfully rewarded for their brilliant efforts. The awards were given away by V S Parthasarathy ,Chief Financial Officer of Mahindra & Mahindra, who were the sponsors of the competition along with Mr. K P Singh, Dep. President Emiretus of Rowing Federation of India, Brigadier (retd) Praveen Uberou, who is also a veteran in rowing and others.
Not only these winners but also those who did their state proud at the national level and other championships were awarded with scholarships, by the President of the Lake Club and the organisers of the regatta.