Japan’s Young Surfing Stars Shine as Shore Temple Classic QS 2000 and Pro Junior Begin in Mahabalipuram

The Shore Temple Classic QS 2000 and Pro Junior began at Mahabalipuram Beach on Wednesday, marking the return of World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series competition to India and the country’s first-ever Pro Junior event.

Surfers from across Asia and beyond took on the long right-hand waves of Mahabalipuram as competition got underway across the Men’s and Women’s QS 2000 divisions and the Men’s Pro Junior. Japan’s emerging surfing talent made an immediate impression on the opening day, while several Indian surfers advanced through the early rounds to keep the home challenge alive.

The event represents an important opportunity for Indian surfers, who are competing on home waters for valuable Asia Region ranking points while gaining experience against international opposition.

Japan’s Keanu Kamiyama was among the standout performers in the Men’s QS 2000, producing a strong 13.67-point heat total in Round 48 to win his heat. India’s Srikanth Dhanasekaran also advanced from the heat, finishing second with 9.63. Japanese surfers continued to occupy the upper end of the scoring leaderboard throughout the opening rounds. Taro Matsuno posted 12.50, while Masamune Uno and Raimu Yamamoto recorded 11.60 and 11.33 respectively.

The performances highlighted the strength of Japan’s young surfing contingent and set an early benchmark for the field as the competition moves towards the decisive rounds. Indian surfers, however, responded with a series of strong performances of their own.

Ruban Vasu won his Round 56 heat with an 8.50-point total, while Praveen Rathod and Nithish Varun also topped their respective heats. In Round 48, Harish Muthu, Sanjay Selvamani, Tayin Arun and Ajeesh Ali were among the Indian surfers who successfully progressed, ensuring a strong home presence in the next stages.

For the Indian contingent, advancing through the early rounds is particularly significant given the opportunity to gain competitive exposure against surfers from established Asian surfing nations.

Arisa Ishii produces top women’s score

The Women’s QS 2000 also produced an impressive opening day, with Japan’s Arisa Ishii delivering the highest score of the round. Ishii posted 12.44, winning her heat by a margin of 6.94 points and immediately establishing herself as one of the surfers to watch as the event progresses. Indonesia’s Lidia Kato recorded 10.27, while Thailand’s Isabel Higgs posted 9.83. India was represented by Shrishti Selvam, Ishita Suhas Malaviya, Sandhya Arunkumar and Devi Ramanathan in the opening round.

The women’s competition will provide Indian surfers with another opportunity to test themselves against some of the strongest young talent in the region while competing for important ranking points.

The inaugural Men’s Pro Junior produced some of the highest scores of the day. Japan’s Raimu Yamamoto led the way with a standout 15.03, followed closely by compatriot Taki Kanazawa with 14.83. Ren Okano also broke the 13-point mark, scoring 13.34. The results demonstrated the quality of the young Japanese field and provided an early indication of the standard Indian surfers will need to match as the Pro Junior competition progresses. India’s Kishore Kumar produced one of the strongest performances for the home contingent. He scored 9.60 to finish second in his heat and secure his place in the Round of 16.

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For the country’s young surfers, the Pro Junior is more than another competition. As India’s first-ever event in the format, it provides an important platform for junior athletes to compete in an international-level environment and understand the demands of progression towards senior competition.

The return of the WSL Qualifying Series to India gives the country’s surfers an opportunity to compete for Asia Region ranking points without travelling overseas. Home conditions also provide an additional advantage, with Indian competitors familiar with the waves and coastline around Mahabalipuram. The event comes at a significant time for Indian surfing as the sport continues to develop its competitive infrastructure and expand opportunities for young athletes.

Competition at the Shore Temple Classic QS 2000 and Pro Junior will continue on Thursday, with action scheduled to begin at 6:30 AM, subject to wave and ocean conditions. The event is organised by the Surfing Federation of India (SFI) and Tamil Nadu Surfing Association (TNSA) and sanctioned by the World Surf League.

The competition is supported by the Sports Authority of India and Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu as government sponsors, with TT Group as the principal sponsor. Bisleri is the official Hydration Partner. Marmoris Lounge and Sea Breeze Resort are the official Venue Partners, while Madras Chronicle Bay Resort & Spa and Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay, Mahabalipuram are the official Hospitality Partners. Chettinad Health City is the official Medical Partner.

With the first day complete, Japan’s young surfers have set the early scoring benchmark. But with several Indian athletes already through to the next rounds, the home challenge remains firmly alive. 

As the waves roll into Mahabalipuram over the coming days, the Shore Temple Classic will offer a valuable glimpse of the next generation of Asian surfing talent and another important step in India’s growing journey on the international surfing circuit.