Tamil Nadu surfers displayed impressive skills at the inaugural Little Andaman Pro 2026, the first national surfing and stand-up paddling championship in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Teenagers Kishore Kumar, Sivaraj Babu, Srikanth D, and Ramesh Budhial stood out in the Men’s Open surfing category with remarkable performances. In the Women’s Open category, Kamali Moorthy, Shrishti Selvam, and Sugar Shanti Banarase secured spots in the quarterfinals with strong displays.
The event, organized by the Surfing Federation of India, is fully sponsored by Andaman Tourism. In the Men’s Open surfing category, 38 surfers competed in Round 1, with 20 advancing directly to Round 3. The remaining 18 surfers will compete in the repechage on Day 2. Standout performers like Akilan S, Sanjay Selvamani, and others qualified for Round 3.
The surfing Women’s Open category saw more surfers advancing to the quarterfinals, including Devi Ramanathan, Sandhya Arun, and others. The competition at Butler Bay, known for its unique conditions, proceeded smoothly without interruptions. The day also featured Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) events, with top performers progressing to the semi-finals and finals.
The championship signifies the start of India’s surfing season and underscores the growing prominence of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a surfing destination in India. Day 2 is expected to bring more intense action with repechage rounds and knockout qualifications at Butler Bay.
