Kolkata/IBNS: The 49th All India Invitation School Regatta, organised by Kolkata's Club, got off to a fine start with veteran Indian hockey captain and Olympian Gurbux Singh declaring the meet open at a well attended function held at club complex Sunday (June 2) afternoon.

The club held two successful trial races in the senior groups to check the security arrangement for the rowers during the competition where St. Pauls Girls beat Modern High School  and Andews defeated Khalsa Boys.

A couple of years back two student rowers met with a fatal accident during a rowing compeition of a neighbouring club following a freak storm which lasted for a very brief period.

All the rowing clubs around Rabindra Sarovar are now strictly following the safety guide lines enforced by the government where the participants also have to pass the standard operating procedure (SOP) before joining this meet.

More than 150 boys and girls from 30 schools in and around the city are joining this oldest school rowing event in the country.

Speaking on the occasion the veteran olympian who was chief guest at the inaugural function praised the club for popularising this sport among the students and urged other sports organisations to follow the same.