Tropical Titanslose to Mighty Oars in CBL-2 final, but retain trophy as top scorers
• Raging Rowers finish third in Kollam as well as overall championships
Kollam / November 26, 2022
Kollam, Nov 26:Tropical Titans retained the prestigious Champions Boat League (CBL-2) by finishing atop the overall points tally today even as they lost to arch-rivals Mighty Oars in the concluding races of the 12-leg IPL-model water event at Kollam, with Raging Rowers emerging third.
Today’s victory meant Mighty Oars won the President’s Trophy, which marked the last round of CBL-2 organised by Kerala Tourism.At the closely-fought races, Tropical Titans (traditionally Pallathuruthy Boat Club, on the snake-boat named MahadevikadKattilThekkethil) could not repeat their magic of overtaking their rivals in the last lap of the track. Throughout the final here, Mighty Oars (NCDC, rowing the Nadubhagam) retained a clear edge over Tropical Titans, clocking first with 4:13.89 minutes.
The winby Mighty Oars this eveningmeant that Tropical Titans presented an anticlimax in the finals of CBL-2 by timing 4:15.36, while Raging Rowers (Kerala Police Boat Club, Champakulam) became the second runners-up with 4:15.96.
Living up to the significance of the final races, all the nine CBL teams gave a spirited performance. Particularly impressive was Backwater Warriors (Town Boat Club, St Pious Tenth), who finished fourth — three notches up their rank in the previous round last Saturday at Kallada, 25 km north of this city.
Pride Chasers (Vembanad Boat Club, Payippad) came fifth today, followed by Ripple Breakers (Punnamada Boat Club, Veeyapuram). Finishing seventh were Backwater Knights (Village Boat Club, Devas), while Thunder Oars (KBC-SFBC, AyaparambuPandi) came eighth. At the last came Coast Dominators (UBC Kainakary).
As CBL-2 wound up, Tropical Titans won the championships by mustering 116 points overall, nine more than Mighty Oars (107). Raging Rowers (92) came third, followed by Ripple Breakers (fourth, 76 points),Pride Chasers (70) and Coast Dominators (sixth with 57 points). At the seventh position with 46 points were Backwater Knights, followed by Backwater Warriors (45). Thunder Oars (40) stood at the bottom.
Finance Minister Shri K.N. Balagopalan inaugurated CBL-2 finale this evening along with the President’s Trophy. Actor ShriMukesh MLA presided over the function that was attended by Shri N.K. Premchandran MP, Shri M. Noushad MLA, Principal Secretary (Tourism) Shri K.S. Srinivas, Kerala Tourism Director Shri P.B. Nooh, Kollam Mayor SmtPrasanna Earnest and District Collector SmtAfsanaParveenbesides members of local civic bodies.
Champions Tropical Titans earned Rs 1.25 crore overall in the CBL-2 season, while runners-up Mighty Oars got Rs 99 lakh. Raging Rowers earned Rs 68 lakh. Each participating team got Rs 4 lakh in every league match at CBL-2, which had prize money totallingRs 5.96 crore overall.
The inaugural of CBL-2 was held in Alappuzha on September 4 along with the renowned Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
