Kolkata/IBNS: Over 300 rowers, both men and women, from different Indian states as well as from Australia and Thailand will participate in the 80th Amateur Rowing Association of the East (ARAE) and Far East Amateur Rowing Association (FEARA) Championship that to be held by the Lake Club in Kolkatas Rabindra Sarovarlake during March 18 to 23.
Addressing the media at Lake Club complex on Saturday, the clubs joint secretary Debabrata Dutta informed that the Regatta is open to men, women and mixed categories for open, sub-junior (below 15 years), masters (above 36 years), super masters (above 50 years) and grand masters (above 60 years).
He said the week-long championship will be inaugurated on March 18 by Asian Rowing Federation Vice President Rear Admiral Praparnpongs Pochanasomburana of Thailand, whilethe championships finals will be held on March 23.
Speaking on the occasion West Bengal Rowing Association President Raja Dssgupta said the event will also include indoor rowing events which will be held on the inaugural day.
The events of the championship will include single scull, double scull, pairs and fours, Dasgupta added.
Regatta Secretary of the meet, Somnath dey, intimated that beside Mercantile Rowing Club from Australias Melbourne and Rowing Club of Pattaya from Thailand, other participating teams here include College of Engineering Pune, Madras Boat Club from Chennai, Calcutta Rowing Club, Bengal Rowing Club and the host Lake Club.
Commenting on the participants, Lake Club Captain of Boats Sudip Naha intimated that noted oars persons who would stake their claim for the top honours include Siddharta Sunil of Chennai, Pratik Gupta and Sweta Bramhachari of West Bengal.
Veteran oarsman Shakeel Ahmed said the championship will be conducted maintaining all safety norms for oars persons and equipment, as has been jointly worked out with Kolkata Police and KMDA for rowing on Rabindra Sarobar.
There will be speed boats, rescue teams, doctors and ambulance on standby during the entire championship as there will be a total of 25 events during the six-day meet, he added.
