India’s young surfing talents, Harish Prakash and Tayin Arun, made waves on the third day of the Asian Surfing Championships 2025, held at Mahabalipuram’s Sea Breeze Beach Resort, by advancing to the third round in the Under-18 boys' category. The event, a key qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, showcased intense competition among Asia’s top surfers, with India’s emerging stars holding their own against a strong international field.
Tayin Arun, representing Tamil Nadu, delivered the standout performance among Indian competitors, scoring an impressive 9.23 points in his heat. His dynamic maneuvers and wave selection earned him a second-place finish in Heat 1, trailing Thailand’s Tinn Johnson, who led with 9.60 points. Arun’s score reflects his growing prowess, honed through rigorous training under the Surfing Federation of India and his recent success at the Indian Open of Surfing, where he clinched the Groms Boys U-16 title with a score of 10.17.
Harish Prakash, an 11-year-old prodigy from Tamil Nadu, also secured a third-round berth with a solid 7.97 points in Heat 2, finishing behind Malaysia’s Lucas Santiago, who posted 10.57 points. Prakash’s performance builds on his strong showing at the 2024 Asian Surfing Championships in Thulusdhoo, Maldives, where he advanced to the third round with a score of 4.97, demonstrating his consistency at the continental level. His ability to compete against older, more experienced surfers underscores the depth of talent emerging from India’s coastal fishing communities.
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The third Indian in the Under-18 category, Prahlad Sriram, scored 4.94 points in Heat 6, placing third. While he missed direct qualification to the third round, Sriram remains in contention and will compete in the Repechage Round 2 on August 5 or 6, aiming to keep India’s hopes alive in the junior category.
The day’s top performances came from China’s Shidong Wu, who dominated with a remarkable 17.34 points, and Korea’s Kanoa Heejae, who scored 13.10 points, setting a high bar for the competition. Their scores highlight the intense challenge Indian surfers face as they vie for top spots and Asian Games quotas.
The Asian Surfing Championships 2025, running from August 4 to 12, mark a historic moment for Indian surfing, with Mahabalipuram hosting the event for the first time. Over 150 surfers from 20 countries are competing across four categories: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s Under-18, and Women’s Under-18. India’s 12-member squad, led by national champions Kishore Kumar and Kamali Moorthy, includes rising stars like Arun, Prakash, and Sriram, all from Tamil Nadu’s vibrant surfing community. The event is live-streamed on the Asian Surfing Federation’s YouTube channel, offering fans a front-row seat to the action.
India’s surfing journey has seen remarkable progress, with the team securing a historic silver medal in the Maruhaba Cup team event at the 2024 Championships in Maldives, alongside first-ever Asian Games quotas for 2026. Arun Vasu, President of the Surfing Federation of India, expressed optimism about the team’s prospects, stating, “Hosting this championship in Mahabalipuram is a milestone. Our young surfers are proving they can compete with Asia’s best, and we’re building toward Olympic dreams.”
As competitions in the senior men’s and women’s categories resume on Thursday, August 7, all eyes will be on India’s squad, including top performers like Kishore Kumar and Kamali Moorthy, to see if they can replicate the juniors’ success. With the home crowd’s support and favorable conditions at Mahabalipuram’s renowned waves, India’s surfers are poised to make further history.
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