Mengaluru, March 8 (NationPress) The second day of the International SUP Championship at the India Paddle Festival 2025, the sole international Stand-Up Paddling event in the country, showcased exhilarating contests across all categories at Sasihithlu Beach. In the APP Distance Race (10 km), Spain’s defending champions proved formidable, with Esperanza Barreras reclaiming her Women’s title while her fellow Spaniard Antonio Morillo excelled in the Men’s category.

India’s young paddlers shone brightly, clinching all three podium spots in the U-15 Technical Distance Race (1.5 km), led by Aneesh Kumar. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Keefe Anargya Pranoto triumphed in the U-18 Technical Distance Race, narrowly defeating defending champion Aakash Pujar.

The India Paddle Festival 2025, organized by the Surfing Swami Foundation and Mantra Surf Club, and supported by Incredible India and Karnataka Tourism, will continue until March 9, offering an exciting blend of elite SUP competitions and cultural festivities.

The day commenced with the U-18 Technical Distance Race (5 km), where Keefe Anargya Pranoto emerged victorious with an impressive time of 38:46:58. Defending champion and local favorite Aakash Pujar followed closely in 39:35:27, while his cousin, Raju Pujar, secured third with a time of 43:00:59.

In the U-15 Technical Distance Race (1.5 km), Tamil Nadu’s Aneesh Kumar took first place, finishing with a time of 10:13:34. Local paddler Pradeep claimed second place in 12:16:37, while another Tamil talent, Nitish K, took third with a time of 13:23:42.

Defending champion Esperanza Barreras from Spain demonstrated her prowess in the 10 km APP Distance Race, winning with a remarkable time of 51:11:35. She was followed by South Africa’s Chiara Vorster in second place with 57:44:18, and Korea’s Sujeong Lim, who secured third with 58:33:37. India’s Vijayalakshmi Irulappan finished commendably in fifth place with a time of 1:03:15:29.

Reflecting on her victory, Esperanza Barreras stated, “The competition was incredible, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. The conditions here are always superb, and I felt no pressure defending my title as I concentrated solely on my performance during the races. I really pushed hard to win today and am absolutely thrilled with the result.”

Spain’s Antonio Morillo claimed victory in the APP Distance Race – Open Men’s Category, finishing with a stellar time of 44:53:47 to retain his championship. Hungary’s Daniel Hasulyo took second place at 45:34:38, while Denmark’s Christian Andersen rounded out the podium in third with 47:05:46.

Among Indian paddlers, Sekar Patchai displayed a strong performance, securing fourth place with a time of 50:32:46, followed by Manikandan M., who finished sixth in 52:31:23.

After his triumph, Antonio Morillo remarked, “The conditions were fantastic—warm water, choppy waves, strong winds, and floodwaters in the river. It was a race filled with challenges, making it a true test for all competitors. I faced stiff competition, particularly from Christian Andersen. We pushed each other hard in the top three, but once we entered the river, I found an extra gear, surged ahead, and secured the win. It was a tough battle, but I’m thrilled with the outcome.”