Ramesh Budihal Leads Men’s Open Semifinalists at Indian Open of Surfing

The seventh edition of the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing 2026 moved into a decisive phase on Saturday as the Men's Open semifinalists were confirmed following an action-packed second day of competition at Sasihithlu Beach in Mangaluru.

With the tournament carrying significant importance in the selection process for India's surfing team for the 2026 Asian Games, competitors faced challenging conditions and high stakes as quarterfinal and semifinal action unfolded across multiple categories. Among the standout performers of the day was Kerala's Ramesh Budihal, who emerged as the highest scorer in the Men's Open quarterfinals with an impressive tally of 14.83 points, positioning himself as one of the leading contenders for the national title heading into the final day.

The spotlight remained firmly on the Men's Open category, which featured some of the country's best surfers battling for a place in the last four. Ramesh Budihal's score of 14.83 was the highest among all quarterfinalists, reflecting his ability to adapt to the changing conditions and execute clean technical manoeuvres. Close behind him was Srikanth D, who posted a score of 13.00 to comfortably advance to the semifinals.

Teenage talent Kishore Kumar continued his impressive run in the competition, securing qualification with a score of 11.80. Ajeesh Ali followed with 9.93, while Sanjay Selvamani and Sivaraj Babu completed the semifinal lineup after scoring 9.57 and 8.76 respectively.

The six surfers will now battle for places in the final as the competition reaches its climax on Sunday.

Before the quarterfinals, the Men's Open second round featured 24 surfers competing across six heats for a place in the knockout stage. Teenage sensation Kishore Kumar was among the standout performers, topping the qualifiers with an excellent score of 14.17. Ajeesh Ali followed closely with 13.33, while Ramesh Budihal scored 13.00 to continue his consistent form.

Several experienced surfers also progressed, including Sanjay Selvamani, Srikanth D and Sivaraj Babu. Others advancing to the quarterfinals included Tayin Arun, Naveenkumar R, Harish M, Som Sethi, Ruban V and Sanjaikumar S.

The performances showcased the increasing depth of Indian surfing, with athletes displaying strong wave selection, balance and technical execution despite the difficult conditions.

The Surfing Juniors Under-18 Boys category also produced several notable performances. Harish P emerged as the top scorer with 13.60 points, followed by Tayin Arun with 12.67 and Som Sethi with 12.00. Yogesh A also impressed with a score of 11.34 to secure a semifinal place. Prahlad Sriram and Pradeep Pujar completed the list of qualifiers after advancing through their respective quarterfinal heats.

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The performances highlighted the promising talent emerging through India's junior surfing ranks, an encouraging sign for the future of the sport.

In the Under-18 Girls division, Kamali Moorthy delivered one of the most dominant performances of the day. She topped the semifinal standings with a score of 12.44, comfortably securing her place in the final and reinforcing her status as one of India's leading young surfers. Joining Kamali in the title-deciding contest are Aadya Singh, Saanvi Hegde and Dhamayanthi Sriram, all of whom produced solid performances to advance.

The final is expected to be one of the highlights of the concluding day as the country's top junior female surfers compete for the national title.

The youngest competitors in the championship also made their mark during the Groms (Under-14) semifinals. In the boys' category, Harish P continued his excellent form by recording a score of 14.40 to lead the qualifiers. Sheik Davudh S, Yogesh A and Prahlad Sriram also advanced to the final after strong performances. The girls' division saw Dhamayanthi Sriram secure top spot with a score of 9.50. Sanvita Kundar finished second, while Arabolu Nethra and Gauri Srimushnam also earned their places in the final.

The performances from the youngest surfers highlighted the growing popularity of surfing in India and the increasing strength of grassroots development programmes.

Competition Director Nawaz Jabbar noted that overnight rainfall had created more unpredictable wave conditions, making wave selection and positioning particularly important. The conditions provided an additional challenge for competitors but also offered valuable experience for surfers hoping to represent India at the 2026 Asian Games. With the Asian Games surfing competition set to take place on a beach break, the conditions in Mangaluru are offering selectors and coaches important insights into which athletes are best equipped to perform on the continental stage.

As the championship heads into its final day, attention will be firmly on the Men's Open semifinals and finals, where Ramesh Budihal and the remaining contenders will battle for one of the most prestigious titles in Indian surfing.