Tourism News

Champions Boat League 2025 has Commenced with Thrilling Early Victories

Published in Newsletter Issue No. 386 - October 2025

Kerala’s most awaited water festival, the Champions Boat League (CBL), returned with grandeur on September 19, marking the start of its fifth season. Spanning 14 iconic venues from Kasaragod in the north to Kollam in the south, the league will culminate on December 6 with the prestigious President’s Trophy at Ashtamudi Lake.

Mr. P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Tourism, Kerala, who launched the official CBL microsite and teaser, described the league as a growing celebration of Kerala’s deep-rooted boat race traditions. He highlighted how expanding the event into Malabar has widened its appeal, ensuring that more communities and visitors can experience the vibrancy of the backwaters. The microsite (https://www.keralatourism.org/champions-boat-league/)) now provides real-time updates on fixtures, results, and points tables, along with insights into the cultural heritage of boat racing and detailed team profiles. A promotional video capturing the festive mood and excitement of the event has also been released.

CBL 2025 features nine top teams, including Punnamada Boat Club, Niranam Boat Club, Pallathuruthy Boat Club, Village Boat Club, Changanassery Boat Club, Karichal Chundan, Immanuel Boat Club, Town Boat Club, Kumarakom, and Thekkakara Boat Club. Prize money totalling Rs.5.63 crore has been announced, with Rs.25 lakh reserved for the overall champion, Rs.15 lakh for the runner-up, and Rs.10 lakh for the third-place winner. Venue toppers will receive Rs.5 lakh each, with additional bonuses for all participating teams. Smaller boat categories are also being featured with attractive rewards.

The season opened at Kainakary on September 19, where Pride Chasers of Veeyapuram Village Boat Club stunned the crowd with a dramatic victory in the inaugural race, edging out the Tropical Titans of Pallathuruthy Boat Club. They followed this success with another stellar performance at Thazhathangadi in Kottayam on September 27, narrowly defeating Coast Dominators (Pallathuruthy Boat Club on Melpadam Chundan) in a photo-finish that delighted the cheering crowds on the banks of the Meenachil River. Ripple Breakers of Punnamada Boat Club finished third, ensuring a strong start to the league’s competitive spirit.

The league calendar is spread across Kerala’s diverse waterways. After the spirited launch at Kainakary and the second race at Thazhathangadi, the next stop is Dharmadam in Kannur on October 2. Subsequent fixtures are lined up for Piravom (October 4), Beypore in Kozhikode (October 12), and Marine Drive in Ernakulam (October 17), followed by Cheruvathur in Kasaragod (October 19) and Kottappuram in Thrissur (October 25). The competition will then flow through Alappuzha’s traditional venues at Pulinkunnu (November 1), Karuvatta (November 8), Pandanad (November 15), and Kayamkulam (November 22). The season heads south to Kallada in Kollam (November 29), culminating with the grand finale at Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam on December 6, held alongside the prestigious President’s Trophy.

With its growing reach into new regions and the promise of high-intensity sporting drama, CBL 2025 has already captured the imagination of spectators and rowers alike, reaffirming Kerala’s timeless connection to its waterways and traditions.