Tamil Nadu Surfers Shine at Little Andaman Pro 2026 Championship
Overview of the Championship
The inaugural Little Andaman Pro 2026 saw Tamil Nadu surfers excel, with Sivaraj Babu and Kamali Moorthy taking top honors in the Men's and Women's Open Surfing categories. This event marked India's first national surfing and stand-up paddling championship, hosted in the picturesque Andaman & Nicobar Islands by the Surfing Federation of India (SFI). The final day was filled with thrilling competitions, wrapping up a four-day showcase of the nation's elite talent at Butler Bay.
Men's and Women's Open Surfing Finals
In a thrilling Men's Open final featuring only Tamil Nadu competitors, Sivaraj Babu secured the gold medal with a score of 13.63, narrowly defeating Srikanth D, who earned silver with 13.33. Kishore Kumar, who made history as the first Indian to reach the semifinals of the Asian Surfing Championships (U-18) in the Maldives, finished third with a score of 12.87. Sanjay Selvamani also participated in the finals.
After his victory, Sivaraj Babu expressed his joy, stating, "Winning the inaugural Little Andaman Pro 2026 title fills me with immense pride. This is a fantastic start to the season, and I hope to maintain this momentum. I appreciate SFI and Andaman Tourism for organizing such a remarkable event."
Women's Open Category Highlights
Teenage prodigy Kamali Moorthy delivered an impressive performance in the Women's Open category, achieving the highest score of the day at 15.83 to claim the championship title. Sugar Shanti Banarse from Goa took home the silver medal with a score of 11.64, while Riva Aurora finished third with 7.84.
Kamali Moorthy remarked, "Surfing in the Andaman waters provided us with a unique learning experience that will benefit us in international competitions. I congratulate all medalists and look forward to the upcoming Asian Games."
SUP Sprint Finals Results
In the Men's SUP Sprint final, Dinesh Selvamani won gold with a time of 1:09.20 in the 200m race. Manikandan M and Rajesh D followed, securing silver and bronze with times of 1:10.00 and 1:21.50, respectively.
For the Women's Sprint final, Vijayalakshmi Irulappan finished first with a time of 1:40.35, while Arthi and Nishi took second and third places with times of 1:48.03 and 2:47.94.
Promoting Andaman as a Surfing Hub
The championship, organized by SFI and fully sponsored by Andaman & Nicobar Tourism, emphasized the connection between sports and tourism. With its clear waters and reliable waves, the event positioned the Andaman Islands as a potential global surfing hotspot, attracting attention from athletes and adventure seekers.
SFI President Arun Vasu stated, "The success of the Little Andaman Pro 2026 marks a significant milestone for Indian surfing. Hosting a national championship here has unveiled new opportunities for the sport and highlighted the region's potential as a global surfing destination. We are thankful to Andaman Tourism for their steadfast support in making this event a success."
The conclusion of this inaugural edition lays a solid groundwork for the future of surfing in the islands and enhances India's growing presence on the international surfing scene.