CBL-5 @ Kochi: Backwater Kings Pull Out Upset Victory at Marine Drive

KOCHI:
The fifth season of the Champions Boat League (CBL-5) witnessed high drama when less-fancied Backwater Kings emerged the winners in the city today at the tenth race of the IPL-style water festival being organised by Kerala Tourism.

Rowing the Niranam snake-boat, Backwater Kings crossed the finishing line in 4:10:064 minutes, outsmarting reigning champions Pride Chasers on Veeyapuram Chundan (4:10:119). Third came Ripple Breakers (Nadubhagam Chundan) in 4:11:159 minutes after putting up a stiff challenge.

For Pride Chasers rowing for the Kainakary Village Boat Club, the results at the Marine Drive served a major blow. The reigning champions, high on having scored the first triple hat-trick in the history of CBL, were looking forward to their tenth consecutive victory when the Kochi backwaters served them humiliation, albeit by microseconds.

Backwater Kings (of Niranam Boat Club) had, in the previous match of CBL-5 at Kallada (Kollam) on November 29, made amends for their mistakes that had led them to finish third despite a neck-and-neck fight till the last 20 meters. Today’s result meant that a team from Pathanamthitta district emerged the topper for the first time in the history of a CBL race.

The finish positions at Marine Drive are as follows: Tropical Titans (Melpadam Chundan, rowing for Pallathuruthy Boat Club) fourth, Chundan Warriors (Naduvile Paramban of Emmanuel Boat Club) fifth, Thunder Oars (Karichal Chundan of KCBC Boat Club) sixth, Backwater Chargers (Cheruthana owned by Thekkekkara Boat Club) at seventh, Wave Gliders (Champakulam of Changanassery Boat Club) at eighth and Backwater Warriors (Payippadan of Kumarakom Town Boat Club) ninth.

The Marine Drive race was formally inaugurated by Industries, Coir and Law Minister Shri P. Rajeeve. Presided over by legislator Shri T.J. Vinod, the others on the dais included Kochi Mayor Smt Minimol V.K., Deputy Mayor Shri Deepak Joy, District Panchayat President Shri K.G. Radhakrishnan, Ernakulam District Collector Priyanka G, Sub-Collector Shri G Sai Krishna, Kerala Travel Mart President Shri Jose Pradeep, Tourism Department Joint Director and CBL Nodal Officer Shri T.G. Abhilash, CBL State Coordinator Dr A. Ansar KAS, Deputy Director Shri G. Sreekumar and DTPC Secretary Shri Lijo Joseph, besides representatives of various local self-government institutions.

After ten races, reigning champions Pride Chasers continue to be in the first place with 99 points. Tropical Titans are in the second place with 84 points. Backwater Kings secured third place with 76 points. Ripple Breakers are in fourth place with 72 points. Coming next in the overall position are Chundan Warriors at fifth, Thunder Oars at sixth, Backwater Chargers at seventh, Backwater Warriors at eighth and Wave Gliders at ninth.

The final matches 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 runner-up will get Rs 15 lakh, while 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 first, second and third place winners respectively. Each team will also receive a bonus of Rs 4 lakh.