Headliners for India Paddle Festival: Men’s World No. 2 and Former Champion

Mangaluru, March 4 (NationPress) Christian Andersen, currently ranked World No. 2 in the men’s category, alongside former world champion Daniel Hasulyo, will be the star attractions at the India Paddle Festival. This premier international stand-up paddling event is set to take place from March 7 to 9 at the picturesque Sasihithlu Beach.

The impressive lineup also includes Esperanza Barreras, a four-time world champion and defending women’s champion. India will be represented by the formidable Sekar Patchai, the reigning national champion and a 25-time title winner.

This three-day international festival is organized by the Surfing Swami Foundation and Mantra Surf Club, with support from Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) and Karnataka Tourism.

As an event sanctioned by the Association of PaddleSurf Professionals (APP) World Tour, which is the official World Championship Tour for stand-up paddling, the festival will showcase elite-level SUP racing, live music, and vibrant cultural festivities, making it a remarkable occasion for non-motorized water sports in India.

The women’s category will feature defending champion Esperanza Barreras from Spain, a four-time International Surfing Association (ISA) SUP world champion. She will be joined by rising star Chiara Vorster from South Africa and Lim Sujeong, a SUP champion from Korea, all vying for dominance in Indian waters.

In the men’s category, the competition is expected to be fierce, with top athletes like Antonio Morillo from Spain, who narrowly missed the title last year, and Christian Andersen, the current World No. 2, also known as the "Polar Bear".

Adding to the competition’s depth, Hungary’s former world champion Daniel Hasulyo brings extensive experience, while Will Keetley from the UK is ready to make an impression on the waters of Sasihithlu Beach.

Local hero and India’s top-ranked stand-up paddler, Sekar Patchai, will lead the nation’s challenge. As a 25-time National SUP champion, Patchai aims to excel in his home waters, joined by Manikandan, one of India’s fastest-rising stand-up paddlers, against international competitors. The event will also see strong contingents from Thailand and Indonesia.

The India Paddle Festival 2025 will feature various SUP race formats, including sprint, technical, and distance races, testing the endurance and agility of the athletes. Over 40 stand-up paddlers will compete across four categories: men’s open, women’s open, junior U-16 boys, and junior U-16 girls.

With India achieving its first-ever surfing quota for the Asian Games, the festival signifies another milestone in the country’s developing water sports scene.