Kamali Moorthy Completes Stunning Double as NMPA Indian Open of Surfing 2026 Concludes

India's top surfers delivered a spectacular finale to the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing 2026 in Mangaluru, with Tamil Nadu's Kamali Moorthy emerging as the biggest star of the championship after completing a remarkable double on the final day.

Kamali captured both the Women's Open and Surfing Juniors U-18 Girls titles, while fellow Tamil Nadu surfer Kishore Kumar clinched the prestigious Men's Open crown. The event, one of the most important stops on India's surfing calendar, also served as a key selection event for the country's squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

The championship showcased the rapid growth of Indian surfing, with established stars and emerging talents producing high-quality performances across multiple categories.

Already one of the most recognizable names in Indian surfing, Kamali Moorthy once again proved why she remains the benchmark in women's competition. The teenager, who has already secured India's surfing quota for the upcoming Asian Games, successfully defended her Women's Open title with a winning score of 13.17. The final developed into a fascinating battle between Kamali and Goa's Sugar Shanthi Banarse.

Sugar started strongly and seized an early advantage with an excellent opening wave. However, Kamali remained composed and gradually worked her way back into contention. As the clock wound down, she produced a decisive scoring ride that swung the contest in her favour and secured another national title. Sugar finished second with 11.73 points, while Tamil Nadu's Shrishti Selvam completed the podium with 8.50.

The victory further strengthened Kamali's credentials ahead of the Asian Games selection process and reinforced her status as India's leading female surfer.

If winning the Women's Open was impressive, Kamali wasn't finished. The young surfer returned to dominate the Surfing Juniors U-18 Girls category, completing a championship double in emphatic fashion. She controlled the final from the beginning, posting a winning score of 14.83 and leaving the rest of the field chasing her throughout the heat. Karnataka's Saanvi Hegde delighted the local supporters by claiming second place with 5.67 points, while Aadya Singh secured third with 2.73.

Following her second title, Kamali acknowledged the significance of the event and the challenge ahead as India's Asian Games selection process gathers momentum.

Her performances across both categories highlighted not only her technical quality but also her consistency under pressure.

Kishore Kumar Claims Men's Open Crown

The Men's Open category featured some of the strongest competition of the championship, but it was Tamil Nadu's Kishore Kumar who emerged victorious. Entering the final as one of the favourites, Kishore produced a composed and mature performance to secure the title with a score of 15.20. The final featured several of India's top surfers, including Kerala's Ramesh Budihal, Sivaraj Babu and Srikanth D. Ramesh started brightly and appeared poised to challenge for the crown, but Kishore responded with a series of high-scoring rides that gradually established his lead. 

By the end of the contest, Kishore had done enough to secure first place ahead of Ramesh (12.87), Sivaraj (11.90) and Srikanth (9.93). The victory marked the biggest achievement of Kishore's career and significantly strengthened his case for Asian Games selection.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/ramesh-budihal-leads-men-s-open-semifinalists-at-indian-open-of-surfing

The home crowd had reason to celebrate thanks to Pradeep Pujar. The Karnataka surfer delivered one of the standout performances of the final day to capture the Surfing Juniors U-18 Boys title and secure the host state's only championship victory. Pradeep's winning score of 12.17 was built around a spectacular penultimate wave packed with aggressive manoeuvres that proved decisive in separating him from the field. Tamil Nadu's Tayin Arun finished second with 11.26 points, while Prahlad Sriram claimed third with 9.50.

For Pradeep, winning a national title in front of local supporters made the achievement even more special.

One of the most exciting developments at this year's championship was the introduction of the U-14 "Groms" categories. The new divisions offered a glimpse into the future of Indian surfing and highlighted the growing depth of young talent across the country. In the boys' category, Harish P delivered a dominant display to win with 17.23 points, finishing comfortably ahead of Sheik Davudh S and Prahlad Sriram.

Meanwhile, Dhamayanthi Sriram emerged victorious in the girls' division with a score of 10.50, ahead of Arabolu Nethra and Sanvita Kundar. The performances of these young surfers offered further evidence that Indian surfing's talent pipeline continues to grow stronger.

Beyond the titles and podium finishes, the championship carried added importance because of its role in the Asian Games selection process. Following the event, selectors will evaluate performances alongside results from the Andaman Little Pro, national coaching camps, international competitions and overall rankings before finalising India's squad for Aichi-Nagoya 2026. 

With Kamali Moorthy completing a memorable double and Kishore Kumar securing the Men's Open title, Tamil Nadu emerged as the dominant force of the championship. More importantly, the event demonstrated that Indian surfing continues to move forward, with a new generation of athletes ready to challenge on the continental stage.