Rajkot: Jamnagar-based kayaker Nachiketa Gupta has won the championship title at Malabar River Festival in Kerala, emerging victorious in a field featuring paddlers from India and several other countries.Gupta, an assistant engineer with Gujarat govt’s irrigation department, competed in the four-day festival held from July 30 to August 2 on the Chalipuzha and Iruvazhinjipuzha rivers in Kozhikode district.The 12th edition of the Malabar River Festival featured kayak cross and downriver time trial events in both open and amateur categories. The event was organised by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society, Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council and the district panchayat, with technical support from the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association.The festival is regarded as one of Asia’s leading whitewater kayaking competitions, with challenging courses designed to test speed, endurance, technical skills and ability to negotiate turbulent rapids and rocky river channels.The competition attracted elite paddlers from more than 10 countries, including India, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and several European nations. Participants competed in internationally recognised disciplines such as boater cross and downriver race.A total of 60 participants took part in the competition, with 16 advancing to the quarter-finals. The final was contested by four paddlers, with Gupta emerging as the champion.“Representing India and Gujarat on the international stage and becoming a champion is an honour beyond words. I hope this achievement inspires more young people from Gujarat to take up whitewater kayaking and other adventure sports,” Gupta said.Gupta has been pursuing kayaking since 2016. He has also participated in a range of adventure activities, including skiing, paragliding, skydiving and mountaineering, while continuing to serve as a govt officer.
