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Posted on May 30, 2026

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Mangaluru : The seventh edition of the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing officially commenced on Friday at the scenic Blue Bay Tannirbhavi Eco Beach in Mangaluru. Serving as a crucial stop in the National Championship Series and a vital event for India’s Asian Games selection cycle, the premier competition kicked off with clean waves and favorable weather, providing excellent surfing conditions for athletes from across the country.

The championship was formally inaugurated with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony attended by several prominent dignitaries, including Mr. Abhayachandra Jain, Former Minister for Fisheries, Youth Services & Sports, Karnataka Government, and Mr. Darshan H.V., IAS, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Dakshina Kannada. Other notable officials present included Mr. Dilip Kumar and Mr. Pradeep D’Souza from the Dakshina Kannada tourism and sports departments, alongside top representatives from the Surfing Federation of India, Karnataka Surfing Association, Surfing Swami Foundation, and the Sports Authority of India. Adding a vibrant local touch to the inaugural ceremony was a traditional Chande drum performance, a popular folk percussion art form from coastal Karnataka.

High-octane action unfolded on the opening day across four major divisions: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Under-18 Boys, and the newly introduced Under-14 Boys category. The Men’s Open category saw a fierce battle as 45 surfers competed across 12 heats, with the top two from each heat advancing to Round 2 on Saturday. Standout performers who secured their spots in the next round included Kishore Kumar, who posted a score of 12.90, Ramesh Budihal (12.57), Tayin Arun (12.10), Sanjaikumar S (11.84), Ajeesh Ali (11.74), and Akilan S (11.66), among others.

In the Women’s Open quarter-finals, Tamil Nadu’s Kamali Moorthy stole the spotlight by emerging as the highest scorer of the entire day across all categories, putting up an impressive score of 13.83. Goa’s Sugar Shanthi Banarse followed closely with an 11.00. Both surfers showcased exceptional maneuvering skills in challenging conditions to secure their spots in the semi-finals, where they will be joined by Ishita Malaviya (6.40), Devi Ramanathan (5.90), Saanvi Hegde (5.37), and Shrishti Selvam (5.33).

The Surfing Juniors Under-18 Boys category witnessed intense competition among 19 surfers across six heats. Top junior talents like Harish P (12.67), Tayin Arun (10.33), Som Sethi (9.93), and Pradeep Pujar (9.07) successfully booked their places in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, the day concluded with the quarter-finals of the debutant Under-14 Boys category, where young prodigies like Harish P (11.33), Sheik Davudh S (6.67), Yogesh A (6.50), and Prahlad Sriram (5.43) moved ahead into Saturday’s semi-finals.

Reflecting on the successful start, Mr. Shamanth Kumar, Secretary of the Karnataka Surfing Association, praised the excellent wave conditions and highlighted the event’s significance in national rankings and international event preparations like the Asian Games. Mr. Saurabh Verma, Manager of Athlete Relations at the Sports Authority of India, also commended the remarkable growth of Indian surfing, noting how such platforms give athletes essential competitive exposure.

The prestigious event is organized by the Mantra Surf Club and the Surfing Swami Foundation under the aegis of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI). It is heavily backed by the Government of Karnataka and the Karnataka Surfing Association, with the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) returning as the title sponsor for the third consecutive year, and Cycle Pure Agarbatti and Deconstruct Skincare contributing as Gold Sponsors.