ALAPPUZHA:
The new-age Champions Boat League (CBL) is set to host its tenth round this weekend in the very territory where the snake-shaped canoes were first built for late-medieval kings to wage territorial wars through supremacy in the backwaters.
Known locally as chundan vallam, the longish wooden carrier carrying around 100 rowers is central to Kerala’s boat races that are a festive extension of the backwater battles between the Chembakassery and Kayamkulam provinces four centuries ago. This Saturday, Kayamkulam in this coastal district will stage yet another leg of spirited competition between the nine snake-boats vying for honours at the CBL being organised by Kerala Tourism.
Through with nine rounds, the CBL currently has Tropical Titans topping the overall table with 128 points, followed by Raging Rowers (63) and Mighty Oars (59). The leading team has won all but one round so far, scoring two hat-tricks in the process. At Kochi on October 5, Tropical Titans lost in the final. Coast Dominators, who came first that evening, are now in the fourth position with 55 points at the CBL, which is the country’s fourth-highest paid sporting event with prize monies totalling Rs 5.9 crore.
“Only three more rounds are left. Each of them is going to be more crucial than any of the legs so far,” notes a top official of Kerala Tourism. “The upcoming venue needed dredging, which has just got over.”
After Kayamkulam, the November 16 race is at downstate Kallada, while the CBL final at the scenic Ashtamudi lake in Kollam coincides with the President’s Trophy Boat Race on November 23.
Any round’s topper secures Rs 5 lakh, while the first runner-up gets Rs 3 lakh and the second runner-up Rs 1 lakh. All participating teams are entitled to Rs 4 lakh per round. The overall CBL winner gets Rs 25 lakh, followed by Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for the second and third prize winners.
The previous two CBL rounds were held at the watery Kuttanad region: at Pulinkunnu on November 2 and Kainakary on October 26. The Kochi round at Marine Drive in Ernakulam was followed by two rounds in one venue: Kottappuram near Kodungallur of Thrissur district. The CBL legs after the inauguration in Alappuzha were at Kottayam’s Thazhathangadi (Sep 7), Karuvatta (Sep 14) and Piravom (September 28).
The races are being broadcast live. 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. Tickets can be booked online through ‘Book my Show’ platform, besides outlets that facilitate spot purchase of tickets. The prices range from Rs 200 to 2,000.
