Melpadom Chundan wins third CBL league race at Chengannur

Alappuzha / September 26, 2026

ALAPPUZHA, Sept. 26: Melpadom Chundan, rowed by the Pallathuruthy Boat Club, won the third league race of the sixth season of the Champions Boat League (CBL), clocking 3:21.400 at Mithramadam Nettayam in Pandanad, Chengannur, on Saturday.

Melpadom Chundan edged out Aroma Chundan, rowed by the Aroma Boat Club, and Niranam Chundan of the Niranam Boat Club by fractions of a second in a closely contested race. Aroma Chundan, which had won the first two league races, finished second in 3:21.580, while Niranam Chundan finished third in 3:22.013.

Melpadom Chundan took the lead in the first lap, but all three boats were level by the second lap. Niranam Chundan moved ahead by about two oarsmen midway through the race, while the three boats were again together in the third lap. In the final lap, Melpadom Chundan overtook the reigning race winner Aroma Chundan by 180 microseconds to emerge victorious.

Inaugurating the Chengannur CBL race, Home Minister Shri Ramesh Chennithala said traditional sporting events such as boat races were an important part of Kerala's heritage. The CBL had given such events a professional dimension and would help preserve their cultural identity along with promoting them as sporting events, he said.

Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Cinema Minister Shri P.C. Vishnunadh distributed the Vivekananda Trophy and other prizes to the winners. He said he was pleased to have witnessed the excitement of the boat races at the first three venues. The State Tourism Department was spending Rs. 11 crore to conduct the races from Kollam to Kottappuram, he said.

Chengannur MLA Shri Saji Cherian, who presided over the function, flagged off the mass drill associated with the boat race. Pandanad grama panchayat president Shri Jiji Kunjukunju, district panchayat president Shri A. Mahendran, former MLAs Shri Mammen Iype and Smt. Sobhana George, Chengannur block panchayat president Shri N. Sudhamani, Chengannur municipal chairperson Shri Manish Keezhamadathil and Venmony grama panchayat president Shri Jebin P. Varghese were among those present.

The finishing positions at Chengannur were: 1. Melpadom Chundan (Pallathuruthy Boat Club); 2. Aroma Chundan (Aroma Boat Club, Paravur, Kollam); 3. Niranam Chundan (Niranam Boat Club, Niranam); 4. Veeyapuram Chundan (UBC Kainakary FC); 5. Punyalan Niranam (Kumarakom Town Boat Club, Kumarakom); 6. Arpookara Chundan (Immanuel Boat Club, Kumarakom); 7. Cheruthana Chundan (NBC Nattakom Boat Club); 8. Nadubhagam Chundan (PBC Punnamada NCFC Boat Club); and 9. Thalavady Chundan (Village Boat Club).

The remaining league races of the season will be held at Kottappuram in Thrissur on October 4, Marine Drive in Ernakulam on October 10, Piravom on October 17, Thazhathangadi in Kottayam on October 24, Pulinkunnu in Alappuzha on October 31, Kainakary on November 7 and Kayamkulam on November 14. The sixth season, which has 11 races including the final, will conclude with the President’s Trophy Boat Race in Kollam on November 21.

The winner at each race venue will receive ₹5 lakh, while the second- and third-place finishers will receive ₹3 lakh and ₹1 lakh respectively. Each team will also receive ₹4 lakh as bonus. The club finishing first in the overall championship will receive ₹25 lakh, while the second- and third-placed clubs will receive ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh respectively.

ENDS

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