The 5th Indian Open of Surfing, poised to spotlight the talent and skills of India’s top surfers, is set to kick off from 31 May in Mangaluru, Karnataka.
Notable participants include Ramesh Budihal, Kishore Kumar, Harish M, Srikanth D, Manikandan D, Kamali Moorthy, Srishthi Selvam, and Sandhya Arun. These surfers will compete across four different categories: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, and Groms U-16 Boys & Girls.
The three-day event commenced with an official inauguration on Friday, 24 May, under the auspices of the New Mangaluru Port Authority, serving as the event’s title sponsor.
Venkata Ramana Akkaraju, Chairman of the New Mangalore Port Authority, expressed enthusiasm about supporting surfing, recognizing its transformative potential for Mangalore as a premier adventure destination.
Mullai Muhilan, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshin Kannada, highlighted the Karnataka Government and Karnataka Tourism’s longstanding support for surfing, encouraging tourism development in scenic places like Sasihithlu.
Organizers lauded the growing popularity of surfing in India, expressing hopes for India’s ascent in the global surfing scene as the tournament unfolds.
