TTT NEWS NETWORK
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 15 NOVEMBER 2024:
The fourth edition of the Champions Boat League (CBL-4), organised by Kerala Tourism will commence in Kottayam tomorrow, setting on course the eagerly-awaited six-weeks-long snake-boat races to be held in as many venues of the state.
Tourism Minister Mr. P A Mohamed Riyas will flag off the event, which carries a total prize money of Rs 3.20 crore, at a ceremony to be presided over by Minister for Ports and Cooperation Shri V.N. Vasavan at Thazhathangadi along the Meenachil river.
Members of Parliament, Mr. Francis George and Mr. Jose K. Mani and Mr. Thiruvanchoor Radhakarishnan, MLA, will be among those present at the function
The championship will have six races that will test the oarsmanship and vigour of rowers of the nine participating teams. Hosted at six venues over as many weekends, the event will conclude at Kollam on December 21 coinciding with the famed President’s Trophy.
The races, ahead of the grand finale, will be held at Kainakari (November 23), Pandanad-Chengannur (November 30), Karuvatta (December 7) and Kayamkulam (December 14) will be held in Alappuzha district.
Minister P A Mohamed Riyas noted that CBL had emerged to be “indispensable” for Kerala Tourism, having drawn global attention during its past three editions. “The level of professionalism each participating team has displayed over the years is impressive. This time we have new clubs joining after having cleared the preliminary rounds,” he added. “The CBL coincides with the start of the state’s tourism season, making it ideal for travellers to the state.”
The commencement of the current edition of CBL also brings to happy fruition the constant requests from enthusiasts and clubs to organize the league style annual championship that was deferred in the wake of mid-monsoon landslides that hit a pocket of Wayanad up the state.
The opening ceremony will also be attended by Kottayam Municipal Chairperson Smt Bincy Sebastian, District Panchayat President Smt K.V. Bindu, Block Panchayat President Smt Arya Rajan, Thiruvarpu Panchayat President Shri Ajayan K. Menon, Kerala Tourism Secretary Shri Biju K, District Collector Shri John V. Samuel, Kerala Tourism Director Smt Sikha Surendran, Additional Director (General) Shri P. Vishnuraj and District Police Chief Shri A. Shahul Hameed, besides representatives of various civic bodies and political parties.
This time, Pallathuruthy Boat Club (PBC) will row the legendary Karichal snake-boat. UBC Kainakari, which has scripted heroics at the illustrious Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR), will be powering the Thalavadi snake-boat in its maiden appearance at the CBL. Kumarakom Boat Club helms the Melappadam Chundan, while the Changanassery Boat Club will be rowing the Ayaparam Valiya Divanji.
Village Boat Club Kainkari is on the Veeyapuram Chundan, the boat that won the CBL title last time amid a spectacular show by PBC in the name of Tropical Titans. Kumarakam Town Boat Club this time will row on Nadubhagam Chundan, the winner of the first CBL. Niranam Boat Club will also use its own boat, while Alappuzha Town Boat Club will row the Paipad Chundanand Punnamada Boat Club the Champakulam Chundan.
The teams finishing first, second and third at the league matches will earn Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively. Based on the overall performance in the six races, the topper will be given Rs 25 lakh. The runner-up will get Rs 15 lakh, while the team finishing third will get Rs 10 lakh.
All the participating teams will be given Rs 3 lakh after each match, while the corresponding money for boat-owners will be Rs 1 lakh.
Tropical Titans have been CBL champions in all the previous editions (2019, ’22 and ’23).CBL Season-3 began on August 12 2023 at Alappuzha (with NTBR) and concluded on December 9 (President’s Trophy, Kollam).
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