For Audio expand: Hello Guys, welcome to IndiaKhelo.com Everyday around 80 lac sports matches (for various sports) are played in India. Either at schools, colleges or sports academies. But none of these match results are highlighted to general public. IndiaKhelo is the ONLY system, collecting these match information from various institutes and uploading these match results on the website. Let's look at example of how it will benefit the local-player. This is Roshan Vaidya's Authentic Sports ...

Indias boating clubs are preparing for the annual Nehru Trophy race. Its a 50 year tradition, originally meant to honor a visit from the countrys first prime minister. Today, decades later its become more of a festive event.There are only a couple of days before the Nehru Trophy Boat Race begins, and boat clubs in Kottayam and Allapuzha are off to a good start with preparations.

The boat race is the most popular of all races. When the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited the region in 1952, he was so impressed by the sport that he donated a rolling trophy for the winner. Since then the races popularity has risen.

Snake boat Illikulam Chundan was launched recently at tourist hotspot Kumarakom, some 46 kilometers from Kochi city. Designing and building it took more than one year, and it will carry 111 people, including 95 oarsmen and 16 musicians to keep their spirits up.

The 132 feet marvel was built by ace boat builder Uma Maheswaran. His father, Kozhimukku Narayanan Asari, has built some of the greatest snake boats in history, most of which won top prizes in many races.

Local race enthusiast Saju Jaboy has built this boat in the memory of his father at a cost of 10 million rupees about US$209,000.

Saju Jaboy, Boat Owner:
"The people of Kumarkom did not have a boat of their own to compete in the Nehru Trophy Boat race. Because of this, I commissioned this Chundan Vallom (snake boat). It is also the first new Chundan Vallom built in Kottayam district."

Unmindful of the drizzle, a huge crowd lines the banks of Kumarakom Lake to see the vibrant boat make its splash.

The annual race takes place in neighboring Allapuzha district on the second Saturday of August.

Fifty-nine boats, including 17 snake boats, are expected to vie for top honors. The race has also attracted competition from the Middle East.