Tamil Nadu Surfers Shine at Little Andaman Pro 2026 Championship

Tamil Nadu Dominates at Little Andaman Pro 2026

Little Andaman (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) [India], April 12: 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, respectively. This event marked India's first national surfing and stand-up paddling championship, organized by the Surfing Federation of India (SFI).

The final day was filled with thrilling competitions across various surfing and stand-up paddling events, wrapping up a four-day championship that showcased the nation's elite talent at the renowned Butler Bay.

In the Men's Open final, an all-Tamil Nadu lineup saw Sivaraj Babu secure 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, while Sanjay Selvamani completed the finalists.

After his victory, Sivaraj Babu expressed, “Winning the Little Andaman Pro 2026 title fills me with immense joy and pride. This is a fantastic start to my season, and I hope to maintain this momentum. I appreciate SFI and Andaman Tourism for organizing such a seamless and world-class event.”

In the Women's Open category, the young talent Kamali Moorthy shone brightly, achieving the highest score of the day at 15.83 to claim the title. Sugar Shanti Banarse from Goa took home the silver medal with a score of 11.64, while Riva Aurora secured third place with 7.84.

Kamali Moorthy remarked, “Surfing in the Andaman waters provided us with an unparalleled experience and learning opportunity that will benefit us in international competitions. I congratulate all the medalists and eagerly anticipate the upcoming Asian Games.”

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, earning silver and bronze with times of 1:10.00 and 1:21.50, respectively. In 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.

Earlier in the day, surfers and paddlers faced off in the quarterfinals and semifinals to secure their spots in the finals, leading to an exciting conclusion to the championship.

Dinesh Selvamani shared his thoughts post-victory, stating, “Winning here in such unique conditions feels amazing. Competing in the Andaman has been a remarkable experience, and I look forward to building on this success.”

Vijayalakshmi Irulappan added, “Claiming the gold medal here is incredibly special. The conditions were challenging yet rewarding, and this experience will undoubtedly aid my future improvements.”

The championship, organized by the SFI and fully backed by Andaman & Nicobar Tourism, underscored the growing connection between sports and tourism. With its pristine waters, consistent waves, and world-class reef breaks, the event positioned the Andaman Islands as a promising global surfing destination, enhancing its appeal among athletes and adventure tourism enthusiasts.

SFI President Arun Vasu commented, “The success of the Little Andaman Pro 2026 marks a significant milestone for Indian surfing. Hosting a national championship in the Andaman Islands has unlocked new opportunities for the sport and highlighted the region's potential as a global surfing hub. We are thankful to Andaman Tourism for their steadfast support in making this event a success.”

With the inaugural edition concluded, the Little Andaman Pro 2026 has laid a robust foundation for the future of surfing in the islands, further solidifying India's growing presence on the international surfing scene.