CBL-5: Kochi Marine Drive race on Dec 30
Kochi / December 20, 2025
Kochi, Dec 20: The fifth season of the nine-team Champions Boat League (CBL-5) will be held at the Marine Drive here on December 30, bringing to Kochi the IPL-style water festival being organized by Kerala Tourism.
Currently, Pride Chasers (Veeyapuram Chundan, rowing for Village Boat Club) are in the first place with 90 points. Four-time champions Tropical Titans (Melpadam Chundan, rowing for Pallathuruthy Boat Club) are in the second place with 77 points. The third place is being shared by Backwater Kings (Niranam Chundan, rowing for Niranam Boat Club) and Ripple Breakers (Nadubhagam Chundan rowing for Punnamada Boat Club) with 66 points each.
The remaining teams are Chundan Warriors (Naduvile Paramban of Emmanuel Boat Club standing fourth), Thunder Oars (Karichal Chundan of KCBC Boat Club at fifth), Backwater Chargers (Cheruthana owned by Thekkekkara Boat Club at sixth), Backwater Warriors (Payippadan of Kumarakom Town Boat Club at seventh), and Wave Gliders (Champakulam of Changanassery Boat Club at eighth).
The CBL-5 Marine Drive race was originally scheduled to be held on October 17, but got postponed due to technical reasons.
The December 30 race will be inaugurated by Industries, Coir and Law Minister Shri P. Rajeeve. Ernakulam MLA Shri T.J. Vinod will preside.
On Monday, legislator Shri Vinod will lead an extensive organizing committee meeting along with Ernakulam District Collector Smt Priyanka G. to review the preparations.
The upcoming CBL race will add colour to the commercial city's Christmas and New Year celebrations, organisers said.
The final matches of CBL-5 will be held with the Kollam President's Trophy. The championship for the winner of the fifth season will also be awarded on that day.
The club that wins first place in the championship will receive Rs 25 lakh, the second-place winner will receive Rs 15 lakh, and the third-place winner will receive Rs 10 lakh. The winners of each competition will receive Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh for the second and third place winners respectively. Each team will also receive a bonus of Rs 4 lakh.
ENDS
