Melpadom Chundan wins third race of Champions Boat League
In the final lap, Melpadom Chundan overtook the reigning race winner Aroma Chundan by 180 microseconds to emerge victorious. The finishing positions at Chengannur were: 1. Melpadom Chundan (Pallathuruthy Boat Club); 2. Aroma Chundan (Aroma Boat Club, Paravur, Kollam); 3. Niranam Chundan (Niranam Boat Club, Niranam); 4. Veeyapuram Chundan (UBC Kainakary FC); 5. Punyalan Niranam (Kumarakom Town Boat Club, Kumarakom); 6. Arpookara Chundan (Immanuel Boat Club, Kumarakom); 7. Cheruthana Chundan (NBC Nattakom Boat Club); 8. Nadubhagam Chundan (PBC Punnamada NCFC Boat Club); and 9. The remaining league races of the season will be held at Kottappuram in Thrissur on Oct 4, Marine Drive in Ernakulam on Oct 10, Piravom on Oct 17, Thazhathangadi in Kottayam on Oct 24, Pulinkunnu in Alappuzha on Oct 31, Kainakary on Nov 7 and Kayamkulam on Nov 14. The sixth season, which has 11 races including the final, will conclude with President’s Trophy Boat Race in Kollam on Nov 21. The winner at each race venue will receive ₹5 lakh, while the second- and third-place finishers will receive ₹3 lakh and ₹1 lakh respectively. Each team will also receive ₹4 lakh as a bonus. The club finishing first in the overall championship will receive ₹25 lakh, while the second- and third-placed clubs will receive ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh respectively.
Melpadom Chundan edged out Aroma Chundan, rowed by Aroma Boat Club, and Niranam Chundan of Niranam Boat Club by fractions of a second in a closely contested race. Melpadom Chundan took the lead in the first lap, but all three boats were level by the second lap. Niranam Chundan moved ahead by about two oarsmen midway through the race, while the three boats were again together in the third lap. Thalavady Chundan (Village Boat Club).
Kottayam: Melpadom Chundan, rowed by Pallathuruthy Boat Club, won the third league race of the sixth season of Champions Boat League (CBL) in Pandanad, Chengannur, on Saturday.