Top surfers from across the country showcased their skills at the seventh edition of the Indian Open of Surfing, a premier surfing competition held at the Blue Bay Tannirbhavi Eco Beach in Mangaluru. This event is a crucial part of the National Championship Series and plays a significant role in India’s Asian Games selection process. The competition kicked off with ideal surfing conditions, featuring clean waves and favorable weather for the participants.
In the Women’s Open category, surfers like Kamali Moorthy, Sugar Shanthi Banarse, Ishita Malaviya, Devi Ramanathan, Saanvi Hegde, and Shrishti Selvam advanced to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for the final day of the championship. The opening day witnessed intense competition across various divisions, including Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Under-18 Boys, and Under-14 Boys categories.
The Men’s Open category saw 45 surfers battling it out across 12 heats for a chance to qualify for Round 2, set for the following day. Standout performers like Kishore Kumar, Ramesh Budihal, and Tayin Arun delivered impressive performances, showcasing their skills in the challenging conditions. The Women’s Open quarterfinals were equally thrilling, with Kamali Moorthy emerging as the top scorer of the day, closely followed by Sugar Shanthi Banarse.
The Surfing Juniors Under-18 Boys category also witnessed exciting action as 19 surfers competed for a spot in the quarterfinals. Notable surfers securing qualification included Harish P., Tayin Arun, and Som Sethi. The day concluded with the quarterfinals of the newly introduced Surfing Juniors Under-14 Boys category, with surfers like Harish P. and Sheik Davudh S. making it to the semi-finals.
