CBL-5: Pride Chasers win at Pandanad, Backwater Kings come 2nd

Alappuzha / November 15, 2025

Alappuzha, Nov 15: Overcoming stiff challenge from dark horses Backwater Kings till the finishing line, Pride Chasers won at Pandanad today in the fifth season of the Champions Boat League (CBL-5), pushing reigning title-holders Tropical Titans to the third position in the seventh race of the IPL-style tournament.

Pride Chasers (Kainakary Village Boat Club which owns the Veeyapuram Chundan) had to take out all their might to clock 3:38:158 minutes, managing to edge out tenacious Backwater Kings (Niranam Chundan rowed by Niranam Boat Club) by just 0.253 microseconds.

Just behind the two came Tropical Titans (Melpadam Chundan of Pallathuruthy Boat Club), clocking 3:38:575 minutes. CBL-5, which is organised by Kerala Tourism, has five more weekend races left with the final at Kollam next month.

Today’s race saw the dramatic emergence of Backwater Kings as a powerful team. Barring the inaugural at Alappuzha, where Tropical Titans won, Pride Chasers have been proving invincible all the along the subsequent six races. At Karuvatta last weekend, Backwater Kings had finished fourth.

This evening at Pandanad, Backwater Kings reached the final based on the best time in the heats. Yet, into the first half of the decisive race, they were nowhere in the picture. Right from the beginning, Pride Chasers and Tropical Titans rowed all their way with vigour — till Backwater Kings suddenly began making rapid advancements into the second half.

In fact, Backwater Kings were ahead of the rivals when the finishing line was a mere three strokes away.  Then, dramatically, Pride Chasers performed a do-or-die struggle, which paid off in the last ten metres. Backwater Kings became runners-up in a photo-finish.

The overall standings at Pandanad are as follows: Chundan Warriors (Naduvele Paramban of Immanuel Boat Club) fourth; Ripple Breakers (Nadubhagam of Punnamada Boat Club) fifth; Thunder Oars (Karichal of KCBC) sixth; Backwater Chargers (Cheruthana of Thekkekkara Boat Club) seventh, Bacwater Warriors (Payipadaan of Kumarakom Town Boat Club) eighth and Wave Gliders (Champakulam of Changanassery Boat Club) ninth.

Chengannur Deputy Superintendent of Police Binukumar M.K. distributed prizes and trophies. Others present were Tourism Department Joint Director Abhilash Kumar T.G. (CBL Nodal Officer), Deputy Director Dr Ansar K.A.S. (CBL State Coordinator) and Kerala Tourism Deputy Director (Alappuzha) Prabhat D.V. besides CBL Technical Committee members.

The club that wins the championship will receive Rs 25 lakh. The runner-up will receive Rs 15 lakh, and the third-place winner Rs 10 lakh. The top three winners of each competition receive Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively. Each team will also receive a bonus of Rs 4 lakh.

ENDS
 

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