Melpadom Chundan wins fourth CBL league race at Kottappuram

Thrissur / October 4, 2026

Thrissur, October.4 : Melpadom Chundan, rowed by Pallathuruthy Boat Club, won the fourth league race of the sixth season of the Champions Boat League (CBL), an IPL-modelled league of snake boats organised by the Department of Tourism, at Kottappuram in Kodungallur on Sunday.

Melpadom Chundan clocked 2:22.176 to beat Aroma Chundan, rowed by Aroma Boat Club, which finished second in 2:22.742, and Veeyapuram Chundan, rowed by VBC Kainakary FC, which finished third in 2:23.416.Aroma Chundan had won the first two league races of the season,while this is the second consecutive win for melpadom.

The final championship standings have Aroma Chundan on top with 38 points, followed by Melpadom Chundan with 35 points and Niranam Chundan with 33 points.

Tourism and Culture Minister Shri.P. C. Vishnunadh, who presented the prizes, said Muziris Tourism was one of the most important tourism projects of the State government. The winning team was presented the V. K. Rajan Memorial Trophy. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Shri.O. J. Janeesh  inaugurated the Kottappuram boat race. Chalakudy MP Benny Behanan flagged off the boat race. District Collector Smt. Shikha Surendran, Rural Police Chief Shri Mohammed Naseemuddin, officials of Kerala Tourism, members of the CBL Technical Committee and representatives of local self-government institutions were present.

Pallathuruthy Boat Club demonstrated the importance of experience in the Champions Boat League. The club, which has won the CBL championship in all four previous seasons, saw Melpadom Chundan trail in the initial stages of the final. Veeyapuram Chundan, rowed by VBC Kainakary FC, was nearly four boat lengths ahead through the first half of the race. However, Aroma and Melpadom caught up with Veeyapuram after the halfway mark. In the final quarter, neither Aroma nor Veeyapuram could match Melpadom's pace.

Melpadom Chundan, rowed by Pallathuruthy Boat Club, finished first at Kottappuram, followed by Aroma Chundan of Aroma Boat Club, Paravur, Kollam, in second place and Veeyapuram Chundan of VBC Kainakary FC in third. Niranam Chundan of Niranam Boat Club, Niranam, finished fourth, while Nadubhagam Chundan of PBC Punnamada NCFC Boat Club and Cheruthana Chundan of NBC Nattakam Boat Club finished fifth and sixth respectively. Punyaalan Niranam of Kumarakom Town Boat Club, Kumarakom, finished seventh, Arpookara Chundan of Emmanuel Boat Club, Kumarakom, eighth, and Thalavady Chundan of Village Boat Club ninth.

Competitions for Iruttukuthi A, B and Grade small boats were also held as part of the Kottappuram boat race.

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

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

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