World Kayak Championship at Thusharagiri on July 12

Come July and its that time of the year where expert kayakers from across the world will sweat it out for top spots at the International White Water Kayaking Championship scheduled to be held at Thusharagiri in Kozhikode district from July 12 to 22.

Two-time world extreme kayaking champion Joe Morley from the United Kingdom, 2012 London Olympics finalist Mike Dawson from New Zealand and noted kayaker from Italy Max Benetton were the big names featured in the previous years.

Comprising an international kayaking championship, kayaking training programmes and rafting sessions, the Malabar River Festival is organised by the Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council in collaboration with the Kerala Kayaking Academy. Iruvanjipuzha, Kuttiady river and Chalipuzha, the best white waters in South India, will be the venues of the championship.

Around 170 participants are expected to take part in the championship, which will have competitions for beginners and intermediate kayakers. There will be a special category of prizes for the best peddlers of the Indian subcontinent.

The competitions are usually held in Chalippuzha in Kodencheri grama panchayat, Iruvazhinji river in Thiruvamabadi grama panchayat,  and Kuttiady river in Chakkittapara grama panchayat.