CBL-3: Tropical Titans beat Coast Dominators comfortably at Kayamkulam

Reigning title-holders Tropical Titans came back to reckoning in the Champions Boat League Season-3 (CBL-3) at Kayamkulam today, outsmarting black horses Coast Dominators by a comfortable margin in the ninth race of the IPL-model water festival.

Tropical Titans, rowing the Veeyapuram snake-boat owned by Pallathuruthy Boat Club, clocked 4:45.03 minutes, earning an impressive win over Coast Dominators (owned by UBC Kainakary Club, rowing Nadubhagom Chundan) who finished with a timing of 4.48.09. Ripple Breakers (Punnamada Boat Club on Karichal) sprang a surprise third (4:50.40), overall promising more excitement in the remaining three races of the championship being organized by Kerala Tourism.

The results of the races meant a sweet revenge for Tropical Titans, who had been pushed to the second place in the previous leg on October 28 at Karuvatta. This evening, as CBL-3 resumed after an official break of three weekends, Tropical Titans and Coast Dominators displayed a neck-and-neck show while covering three-fourth of the track. Then, dramatically towards the last 100 metres, the rowers of the Tropical Titans snake-boat surged ahead of their rivals to finish first.

Mighty Oars (NCDC rowing Niranam Chundan) ended fourth, followed by Raging Rowers (Police Boat Club on Mahadevikadu Kattil Thekethil). At sixth were Thunder Oars (KBC & FBC on Payipadan Chundan), ahead of Backwater Kings (Niranam Boat Club on St Pius Tenth). Pride Chasers (Vembanad Boat Club on Ayaparambu Pandi) came eighth and Backwater Warriors (Kumarakom Town Boat Club on Champakulam Chundan) last.

Overall, Tropical Titans lead with 86 points, followed by Coast Dominators at 84.

The Kayamkulam races were inaugurated by Smt U. Prathibha, MLA. Present at the ceremony chaired by Kayamkulam Municipality Chairperson Smt S. Sasikala were District Collector Shri John V. Samuel, along with members of civic bodies, Tourism Department officials and top functionaries of the CBL.

The next (tenth) race will be held on November 25 at Kallada (Kollam district) followed by one at Pandanad (near Chengannur in Alappuzha) on December 2. The final of CBL-3 will be on December 9 at Kollam, coinciding with the famed President’s Trophy.

Tropical Titans have been CBL champions in both the previous editions (2019 and ’22). CBL Season-3 began on August 12 at Alappuzha, with the famed Nehru Trophy Boat Race