In a bid to determine the race results more precisely, Olympics model tracking and timing system is likely to be introduced at this year’s Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
Officials said the system was approved by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and used in several international athletics events. “We have already conducted a trial of the new photo finish system at Punnamada. A final decision on using it in the Nehru Trophy will be taken in the general body meeting of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society to be held on June 26. Once the meeting approves the system, it will be used on a experimental basis during the Champakulam Moolam boat race on June 28,” said an official.
The official said that the new system would provide the results in minutes, seconds and microseconds. “The cameras installed at the finishing point will be capable of taking 3,000 to 5,000 frames a second. This will help determine precisely the result of a photo finish,” official added.
The boat race society has also decided to set up a faultless and modern starting system for the annual boat race. The move comes after foul start played spoilsport in the event held at Punnamada Lake in August, 2017. A technical glitch in the electronic starting system had held up the final of the boat race for more than one hour. The races in other categories also encountered a lag on account of foul starts.