ALAPPUZHA:
Last-lap dramatics marked the return of the Champions Boat League (CBL) to southern Kerala today as Tropical Titans scored a second hat-trick in the pioneering event to widen their lead in the points table amid a flurry of spirited races on the Kainakary backwaters of this district.
Local favourites Coast Dominators finished a tearful third, narrowly behind Mighty Oars who became the evening’s runner-up. While the victors timed 4:07.21 minutes in the final amid a drizzle, the second and third teams clocked 4:13.21 and 4:16.04, respectively.
The eighth of the 12-round league, modelled by Kerala Tourism on the lines of IPL cricket, conjured up photo-finish moments yet again. The second and third eams were decided in a time rage of less than three seconds along the one-km stretch.
As two-thirds of the CBL rounds got over today, Tropical Titans stand atop the overall tally with a total of 113 points, followed by Raging Rowers (55) and Mighty Oars (52). Tropical Titans had won the previous two rounds (on October 19 and 12) at Kottappuram in Thrissur district, after suffering a break to their victory streak on October 5. In that leg at Kochi, the surprise winners were Coast Dominators, who today finished third with an overall total of 49 points.
Kainakary in watery Kuttanad taluk, while turning out to be the first venue after the CBL had its three rounds up the state midway the three-month league, saw its heats as well, springing up stiff competition among the nine snake-boats. With the quickest timing of 4:00.93, Tropical Titans won the ‘Nerolac Excel Fastest Team of the Day’ and earned five extra points. The team has won all but one of the eight CBL rounds so far.
The Kainakary round under a largely overcast sky had its share of photo-finish moments, much in line with the earlier matches. Cameras at the finishing point became necessary in deciding the results of the losers’ final and second losers’ final, too.
The overall table now has Backwater Knights standing fifth with 40 points, followed by Pride Chasers (38). Seventh down the tally are Backwater Warriors (23), Thunder Oars at 22 and Backwater Ninjas (15).
The day’s topper secured Rs 5 lakh, followed by Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh for the second and third finishers. All participating teams are entitled to Rs 4 lakh per match. The overall winner of the championships is entitled to Rs 25 lakh, followed by Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for the second and third prize winners.
The Kainakary round of the CBL was inaugurated by P Thilottaman, Kerala Minister for Food and Civil Supplies. Among the VIPs to attend the event were Kerala Finance Minister Dr. T M Thomas Isaac, Kerala Tourism Director P Bala Kiran, former MLA Sadasivan C K and District Panchayat President, G Venugopal.
The CBL, with its rounds invariably being made more spectacular by cultural programmes featuring folk and classical performing arts, began on August 31 at Alappuzha and is slated to conclude at Kollam on November 23.
At the October 19 leg in Kottappuram near Kodungallur, Tropical Titans finished first yet again while it was a photo-finish for the second and third winners: Backwater Knights (3:40.01) and Mighty Oars (3:41.13). The October 12 round, also at Kottappuram’s Muziris Heritage Waterfront, saw Tropical Titans winning first, followed by Raging Rowers and Backwater Knights.
The future CBL schedule goes thus: November 2 (Pulinkunnu, Alappuzha district), November 9 (Kayamkulam, Alappuzha), November 16 (Kallada, Kollam district) and November 23 (Kollam, President’s Trophy Boat Race).
Earlier this month, the fifth leg of the ongoing CBL was held in Kochi (Marine Drive, Ernakulam), before Piravom (September 28), Karuvatta (Sep 14), Thazhathangadi (Kottayam, Sep 7) and Alappuzha (Punnamada, Aug 31).
The races were broadcast live as usual. Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Asianet Worldwide, Asianet Plus, Hotstar, ETV Andhra Pradesh and ETV Telangana will continue to beam the future CBL rounds live for an hour from 4 pm.
The CBL (www.championsboatleague.in), billed as a game-changing initiative, seeks to professionalise Kerala’s largely scattered snake-boat races, while commercialising them without losing the conventional spirit. Tickets can be booked online through ‘Book my Show’ platform, besides 20 outlets that facilitate spot purchase of tickets. The prices range from Rs 200 to 2,000.
