Azhikodan Achamthuruthi team wins Kozhikode leg of Champion’s Boat League

Azhikodan Achamthuruthi boat club turned out to be the winners in the third season of the Champion’s Boat League (CBL) held at Feroke in Kozhikode on Sunday (October 12, 2025), under the aegis of the Department of Tourism.

While Palichom Achamthuruthi team bagged the second prize, AKG Podothuruthi A Team bagged the third prize in the championship that was witnessed by a massive crowd that assembled on both the banks of the river Chaliyar between the old and new bridges in Feroke, Kozhikode. The scorching sun could not dissuade the enthusiastic crowd from cheering for the rowers, who were largely from Kasargod and Kannur districts.

The winners received their trophies and cash prizes worth ₹1.5 lakh, ₹1 lakh, and ₹50,000 respectively from Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas.

The championship featured 15 Churulan country boats, all 60 feet long. Each boat had 30 rowers. The other participating teams were 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.

Earlier this month, a boat race was held at Dharmadam in Kannur as part of the Malabar leg of the CBL and was well received by the public. Another will be held at Cheruvathur in Kasaragod on October 19.

Inaugurating the boat race earlier, the Minister said that Chaliyar would be a permanent venue for the CBL in Kozhikode district. He added that the CBL, held following the IPL format, is being organised to promote boat races in the northern districts of Kerala, thereby boosting tourism.

Feroke municipal chairperson N.C. Abdul Razak presided over the event while MLA V.K.C. Mammad Koya was the chief guest. President of Kozhikode block panchayat T.K. Shailaja, District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh, and Joint Director of Tourism D. Gireesh Kumar were present.