15-06-2025
Boat clubs urge government to announce CBL-V schedule
The demand to announce the schedule of the 2025 Champions Boat League (CBL-V) is growing louder. Last week, the date for the 71st edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) was announced, scheduled for August 30. Until 2023, the NTBR served as the opening race of the CBL season. However, last year, NTBR was not part of the CBL, but acted as the qualification event for the league.
Boat clubs have urged the Tourism department to announce the schedule for CBL-V, either by designating the NTBR as the inaugural race or by launching the league immediately after it.
'We have prepared a budget of ₹1.5 crore for the upcoming season. Prior to the NTBR, a 40-day training session will be conducted. If there is a gap between the NTBR and the CBL, it will affect the physical condition of the rowers. We will have to incur additional expenses to maintain their fitness. The government should either make the NTBR the first race of the CBL or start the league immediately after it,' said Suneer A., working president of the Pallathuruthy Boat Club (PBC).
Meanwhile, boat clubs that competed in CBL-IV said they were facing a financial crunch, as the government had yet to fully distribute the bonus and prize money, several months after the season concluded. Unlike previous editions, which featured 12 races, CBL-IV was limited to just six.
Pending payments
All nine clubs that participated in CBL-IV are eligible for a ₹3 lakh bonus per race. While the bonus for four races has been disbursed, clubs are still awaiting payments for the final two races.
Additionally, the overall CBL champion is awarded ₹25 lakh, while the runner-up and third-place teams receive ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh, respectively. Payments for the overall standings of CBL-IV remain entirely pending. However, the prize money for individual race winners has been paid. The top three finishers in each race received ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh and ₹1 lakh, respectively.
The 2025-26 State Budget has set aside ₹8.96 crore for the CBL, a reduction compared to previous years. In 2024-25 and 2023-24, the government allocated ₹9.96 crore and ₹12 crore, respectively. The 2022-23 Budget had earmarked ₹15 crore for the league.
In 2024, PBC retained the CBL title for the fourth time in a row. Village Boat Club and Niranam Boat Club ended the championship in second and third spots, respectively.
