The waters of the Chaliyar River in Feroke, Kozhikode, bore witness to an electrifying spectacle on Sunday, October 12, 2025, as the Azhikodan Achamthuruthi boat club emerged as the undisputed champions of the third season of the Champion’s Boat League (CBL). This prestigious event, orchestrated by the Department of Tourism, captivated a massive audience.
Despite the intense scorching sun, an enthusiastic crowd gathered along both banks of the Chaliyar, between the old and new bridges in Feroke, to passionately cheer on their favourite rowers. The majority of the participating athletes hailed from the Kasargod and Kannur districts, bringing fierce regional pride to the competition.
The intense final saw the Palichom Achamthuruthi team clinch a commendable second prize, while the AKG Podothuruthi A Team secured the third position, rounding out the podium finishers.
Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas had the honour of presenting the victorious teams with their well-deserved trophies and cash prizes. Azhikodan Achamthuruthi received ₹1.5 lakh, Palichom Achamthuruthi took home ₹1 lakh, and AKG Podothuruthi A Team was awarded ₹50,000.
This thrilling championship featured 15 magnificent Churulan country boats, each an impressive 60 feet in length and powered by a crew of 30 dedicated rowers. The other formidable teams that competed included AKG Podothuruthy B Team, Red Star Karyakode, New Brothers Mayiccha, Vayalkkara Mayiccha, AKG Mayiccha, Vayalkkara Vengat, VBC Kuttivayal (Fighting Star Club), Krishna Pillai Kavumchira, EMS Muzhakeel, Navedaya Mangalassery, and Dharmadam Boat Club.
Building on the success of an earlier boat race held at Dharmadam in Kannur, which was part of the Malabar leg of the CBL and garnered significant public appreciation, another exciting event is already scheduled for October 19 at Cheruvathur in Kasaragod.
During the inauguration, Minister Riyas proudly announced that the Chaliyar River would now serve as a permanent fixture for the CBL in the Kozhikode district. He emphasized that the CBL, structured in the popular IPL format, is a strategic initiative aimed at promoting traditional boat races across Kerala’s northern regions, thereby significantly boosting local tourism.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including Feroke municipal chairperson N.C. Abdul Razak, who presided over the ceremony, and MLA V.K.C. Mammad Koya, who attended as the chief guest. Other notable attendees included Kozhikode block panchayat President T.K. Shailaja, District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh, and Joint Director of Tourism D. Gireesh Kumar.