Melpadom Chundan wins fifth CBL race at Marine Drive

Kochi / October 10, 2026

Kochi, Oct 10: Melpadom Chundan, rowed by the Pallathuruthy Boat Club, today emerged victorious in a close finish at Marine Drive in the fifth race of the sixth season of the Champions Boat League (CBL), organised by the Kerala Tourism.

Melpadom clocked 4:08.064 to finish first, followed by Veeyapuram Chundan, rowed by UBC Kainakary FC, in 4:08.166. Nadubhagam Chundan, rowed by PBC Punnamada NCFC Boat Club, finished third in 4:08.514.

Higher Education Minister Shri Roji M. John inaugurated the races at Marine Drive.Shri. T.J. Vinod and Shri. Deepak Joy, MLAs; Shri.V.R. Sudheer, Deputy Mayor of Kochi; Smt.G. Priyanka, District Collector;Shri. D. Girish Kumar, Joint Director of the Tourism Department; and members of the CBL technical committee attended the inaugural ceremony. Mr. Vinod distributed the prizes to the winners.

Watched by hundreds of spectators gathered at Marine Drive, the race saw Melpadom take the lead within the first 100 metres. Veeyapuram, however, mounted a strong challenge and surged ahead around the halfway mark. The performance brought back memories of UBC Kainakary’s upset victory with Chambakulam Chundan in the second season of the CBL in 2021.

Nadubhagam, which had been in third place, also made a strong push as the race progressed. With just 50 metres remaining, the Pallathuruthy rowers made a final effort that proved decisive, taking Melpadom across the finish line first.

The victory marked Pallathuruthy’s third consecutive win in the last three races held so far this season. Melpadom also moved to the top of the points table for the first time this season, with 45 points from five races. Aroma Chundan stood second with 40 points, followed by Veeyapuram with 39.

Aroma Chundan, the Nehru Trophy champions this year and winners of the first two races of the sixth CBL season, had to settle for fourth place at Marine Drive. Niranam Chundan, which had consistently reached the final in previous races, finished seventh.

The finishing order at Marine Drive was: Melpadom Chundan (Pallathuruthy Boat Club), first; Veeyapuram Chundan (UBC Kainakary FC), second; Nadubhagam Chundan (PBC Punnamada NCFC Boat Club), third; Aroma Chundan (Aroma Boat Club, Paravur, Kollam), fourth; Punyalan Niranam (Kumarakom Town Boat Club, Kumarakom), fifth; Arpookara Chundan (Immanuel Boat Club, Kumarakom), sixth; Niranam Chundan (Niranam Boat Club, Niranam), seventh; Cheruthana Chundan (NBC Nattakom Boat Club), eighth; and Thalavady Chundan (Village Boat Club), ninth.

Competitions for Iruttukuthi A, B Grade and Veppu 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.

ENDS

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