On the opening day of the India Paddle Festival Stand-Up Paddling Championship at Sasihiltu Beach, Mangaluru, local talents Akash Pujar and his cousin Raju Pujar secured the top two positions in the Under-16 category final race. The event, inaugurated on Friday, March 8, witnessed South Korean participant Jihoon Hwang claiming the third position.

In a remarkable display of skill, Class 10 student Akash Pujar clinched the first position with a time of 43:04 minutes, while his cousin Raju Pujar secured the second spot with a time of 47:24 minutes. Jihoon Hwang completed the podium with a time of 52:52 minutes.

Despite the academic pressure of Class 10 examinations, Akash Pujar expressed dedication to his training, spanning six months, which ultimately led to his victory in the Under-16 category.

Jihoon Hwang, participating in the event for the first time in India, acknowledged the challenging conditions but relished the experience of paddling in Indian waters.

Akash Pujar is set to participate in the Men’s Open Category races on the second day of the competition, alongside world no. 2 Fernando Perez and Junior World Stand-Up Paddling champion Bianca Toncelli. The second day will also feature a women’s category race with the participation of world no. 2 Esperanza Barreras.

The three-day championship, presented by the Karnataka government and hosted by the Surfing Swami Foundation, boasts over 40 athletes from 13 countries, including the U.S., Thailand, Spain, South Korea, and India. The event was inaugurated by Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday.

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